Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My overall view of the Bill and the proposals which the Government is putting forward is that it is an immense disappointment and a terrible missed opportunity by the Government to bring about serious political reform.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, at the outset, in May 2011, stated boldly, "The programme for Government agreed by the two parties contains the most ambitious and far-reaching agenda for political reform ever put before the House". If this is the boldest, most ambitious and far-reaching agenda for reform ever put before this House, if this is the best we can do, I pity us and the country.

There has never been a bigger appetite among the public for real reform and change in the political system. The party of the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, committed to that at the last election. Fine Gael committed to it. It was part of their platform for getting elected. One could not listen to one of their candidates without hearing how the system, as well as the parties which were in power let us down and how they would bring about a breathe of fresh air and all would be different. The public voted for them to put that in place. What, instead, do we get as reform except a straightforward proposition for abolition of the Seanad? It is a stunt.

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