Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Despite being applauded elsewhere in Europe, our bottom-up approach to Leader funding is about to be dismantled.

The abolition of a House of Parliament is a wrong step to take. Previous speakers referred to there being too much talk but problems occur when talking stops. In Northern Ireland, for example, we engaged with people and a democratic process emerged as a result. We need to get people to re-engage with Seanad Éireann. The concept of having different backgrounds represented in the second Chamber served us well in the 1930s and 1940s. For example, the Seanad's record of challenging the status quo had resulted in changes in policy.

On a different note, I question the wisdom of having Michael McDowell front the campaign to save the Seanad because I am not sure people have bought into him - I certainly have not bought into him.

See this speech in context