Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am in favour of much more reform and the Constitutional Convention should have a role to play in how we look at the Seanad and this House. During Leaders' Questions it was mentioned that there are fine people in this House and 90% of Members have the common interest of the people of Ireland at heart. They would like to see this place work more effectively. At the last election there was the largest turnaround of Deputies, with 76 new Deputies introduced, and I have yet to hear any of them state that this place works according to how they want it to. Many of us did not study politics and do not know the solution but one should not throw out what we have if there is no solution in place. If we examine the matter and take it seriously, we should be able to formulate a solution.

The Seanad has a role to play overall but how we elect people to the Seanad must be changed. I was in the envious position of having three votes for the Seanad election due to having qualifications from colleges-----

See this speech in context