Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The people had a choice between voting "Yes" and voting "No". The choices in between had been messed around for 70 years and nobody did anything about them. The issue raised by the Deputy in respect of debates is immaterial. It is important to set out that I was not going to be led by Deputy Martin's agenda or by anybody else's agenda. I made it clear on Saturday in my response to the people's decision, as announced in the result of the referendum, that we need to look at the question of the best thing to do with the Seanad. I have looked at the reports that exist over many years.

Some proposals would not require legislative change, some movement could be made with legislative change, while others would require further referenda. I do not favour the setting up of another separate Legislature by Seanad Éireann. I have said - I am glad Deputy Martin agrees - we should call in the leaders of the parties in the Seanad and engage in a meaningful discussion about what is best to do given the extent of the proposals there are and the clarity of the result of the people and move on. I also make it clear that those discussions are only part of the process of political change that we are involved in as part of wider politics and the management of our affairs in here, which remains, under Article 28(4) of the Constitution, holding the Government to account.

I have a busy schedule, but I will engage with the leaders in the Houses as early as I can. We will sit down and talk about the decision people made that Seanad Éireann continues as part of our Constitution and consider what is the best thing we can do to make it effective and whether we should introduce legislation on the third level sector, which was approved by constitutional referendum almost 30 years ago and never acted on, or whether there are other issues that we should deal with. I will take everyone's view into account. A clear decision has been made and I accept it. I do not think that there is anything wrong with somebody in politics consulting the people when they said they would and accepting their answer. I am up for engaging with the leaders in the Dáil and the Seanad and we will see what is the best way of putting in place a process that will lead to a more effective Seanad Éireann.

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