Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. During the years the Seanad has become for some, particularly during the silly season, a target for controversy. One sees headlines in newspapars calling for its abolition. These calls usually come from Members of the other House. It is regrettable that we are used as a target for criticism, but the media are usually happy to take up this issue.

Now that we are involved in meaningful reorganisation and reform it is important that no one should be given priority in making decisions in this regard. It is particularly important that no Member of the other House should be allowed such priority. I was pleased to hear the Leader of the House insisting that if we move forward with agreed procedures of reform, no interference in those proposals from the other House will be tolerated, provided they are meaningful and correct.

Yesterday an arrangement was made in the other House to give the Taoiseach a free day every Thursday. Senator Ormonde is correct in her observation that we all raise items on the Order of Business in order to gain media attention. However, the sad reality is that we seldom receive replies to them. The Leader of the House gives a courteous reply and promises to raise the matters with the relevant Ministers, but 99 times out of 100 that is the end of the matter. If the Taoiseach has been released from duties in the Dáil on Thursdays, we should propose that he gives a short period of his time on that day to come to this House. If the Government has a serious intention to reform the Seanad, it must agree to such a request and there can be no excuse for refusing.