Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In the programme for Government the Taoiseach committed to establishing a process to ensure the Constitution meets the challenges of the 21st century, and this included abolishing the Seanad. He also committed to establishing a Constitutional Convention to consider comprehensive, constitutional reform. Sinn Féin put it to him that the convention should be asked to re-imagine Ireland and to bring forward a new Constitution, and he refused to do that. I also asked the Taoiseach on a number of occasions to put the future of the Seanad and its reform on the clár of the Constitutional Convention, and he refused to do that.

In light of the result of the referendum at the weekend - I think the Taoiseach made a hames of that referendum; he took it on as a personal political initiative but then refused to show leadership, refused to debate the issues and did not motivate or mobilise citizens - it is clear that no one can view the referendum result as a vote to retain the Seanad in its current form. Will the Taoiseach now move with speed to extend the remit of the Constitutional Convention in order that it can discuss and make recommendations on the future of Seanad Éireann? He has said on at least four occasions in the House, including as late as today, that the essence of democracy is that one asks the people. The convention is a grouping of citizen delegates and the Taoiseach should ask them about this. I have attended a number of the meetings of the Constitutional Convention and I may be one of the few party leaders to have done so. People are very well motivated and are involved in honest and thorough discussions. Here is an issue that can be put on the clár of the convention and it can come forward with recommendations on the future of Seanad Éireann.

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