Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Timmins has been around a long time. There are ten reports on issues relating to the Seanad. Some of those reports are very different and some are poles apart, some are feasible and some are not. A constitutional referendum to change the higher education constituency in respect of the Seanad was passed some time ago but in the intervening years neither a Government nor an Opposition Senator tabled a motion on the matter. I wonder why that was the case. These are matters we need to discuss. It is not just a case of saying that we held a referendum last week and that we should have statements in the Dáil on the matter today. If we are serious about this issue, then there must be a comprehensive engagement regarding what is the best way to proceed. People must consider what has been reported by different committees in the past about the prospects for Seanad Éireann. We now know the people want the Upper House retained as an essential part of our Constitution. Let us make the best of that. An opportunity in this regard will arise in due course. That opportunity is not too far away, I hope.

A number of Deputies have tabled requests for Topical Issue debates on Dáil reform, a matter in respect of which we are engaging at present.

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