Seanad debates
Wednesday, 2 July 2003
Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages.
I see in this legislation Dáil Éireann asserting a primacy to which it is not constitutionally entitled. None of the joint committees of the Houses is chaired by a Member of Seanad Éireann. I am not sure if any of them even has a Senator as a Vice-Chairman. I know some sub-committees have Senators as Vice-Chairmen. I detect in the legislation a reluctance on the part of Dáil Éireann, or someone with the mentality of some in that Chamber, to recognise the equivalence and significance under the Constitution of Seanad Éireann. It is as if it reluctantly conceded that there were two Houses but that there was a determination to ensure the legislation would state clearly the view of some Members of Dáil Éireann – not the constitutional position – regarding the significance or otherwise of Seanad Éireann. That is the reason these amendments are important.
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