Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

When the sub-committee is established it is vital that it be well staffed by a group of people who can work to its agenda alone. The officers of the House are inundated with work and it would be totally unfair to ask them to take on this additional burden. The Leader should do everything in her power to ensure that extra staff requirements are met before the establishment of this sub-committee.

If we are serious about the issue of Seanad reform, it is important to show consensus. If one group of Senators, appointed by the Taoiseach, denigrates another group of Senators, elected by county councillors, which, in turn, denigrates the group of Senators elected by graduates, we will not get far. The only way success will be achieved is by consensus over a period of time. We must move the debate forward and provide for real reform. The debate should not become a point scoring exercise where one group of Senators attacks another group of Senators and questions the validity of its mandate. If we take that route, we will not find a positive solution.

The Seanad is vitally important in the legislative framework of the Constitution. Its Members have made a huge contribution to politics and legislative debates. There is no doubt there is a need for a second Chamber which can review and update legislation and will ensure the Government of the day, regardless of its composition, is rapped across the knuckles from time to time. That requires an independence of mind and spirit. I am conscious of this having been a Member of the other House. People do not expect us to be as party political as we were in the other House.