Seanad debates

Wednesday, 2 June 2004

Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed).

 

3:00 am

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Fine Gael)

However, the arrogant Minister whipped them into line in order to push the Bill through both Houses.

In any consideration of the Seanad, it is essential to consider gender balance. Any representative body should be composed of equal numbers of male and female members. Looking around the Chamber today, one can see that such equality does not exist but I am sure the Leader would be happy to see this position reversed.

I welcome the report's recommendation on the extension of the Seanad's role concerning the EU. The sub-committee stated that it should be responsible for four specific areas and, most importantly, for providing MEPs with a domestic forum to discuss EU matters and account for their work. There is probably less interest in European elections now than when we joined the EU, which is sad. The public seems to think that Europe is a gravy train and that MEPs do not make a meaningful contribution to the development of our country in Europe. If Irish MEPs were given an opportunity to outline their policies in the Seanad and explain how they voted on various issues, it would attract public attention. The report makes provision for the attendance of former Taoisigh and Tánaistí. That should be extended to all former Cabinet members, whose contribution would be invaluable. They should have the right to attend and speak, though without, of course, voting, which is the privilege of the elected Members. However, it would do no harm to hear their views on certain subjects. We should broaden matters, and I would even go a step further, giving ambassadors a role from time to time. If there were a crisis in another country, we should afford the ambassador the opportunity to attend and address the House to update us on exactly what is happening. We rely too much nowadays on the media and journalists to pass on the message, and we act on their reports rather than on those of our diplomatic representatives in those nations where we have ambassadors. We should broaden matters so that we can request an ambassador to attend, give his views, address the House and make a statement on what is happening in the nation in which he is posted if it is at war.

There are other areas I would like to see addressed, but I will always toe the party line on policy, and I compliment our leader, Senator Brian Hayes, on keeping us updated on many activities. I thank him for his foresight and assistance to members when we raised many queries during the process of preparing the reform document, and I wish him well.

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