Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The amendments are mainly technical in nature relating to updating the system. We had the referendum on Seanad abolition and this Bill concerns the Seanad. It is a pity that we do not have more substantial reform. It was not done within the lifetime of the Government. Sinn Féin wanted substantial reform. In particular we wanted universal franchise, increases in the number of women and people from minority groupings in the Seanad, and broader representation. While the existing panels served a purpose and some of them may still serve a purpose, the whole system needs to be re-examined. We need to broaden the franchise to include everybody on the electoral register and allowing people from the Six Counties to become Members of the Seanad. We had people such as Gordon Wilson there in the past. Some other people from the North-----

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