Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

Members will be aware that at the last election to the European Parliament my party colleague, Senator Jim Higgins, gave a commitment to the voters in his constituency that if he was elected to the European Parliament, he would resign his seat in the House and attempt to offer it to a representative of the emigrant community. The issue was raised in the Dáil last week by my party leader and the Taoiseach said that the matter should be worked out among the group leaders in the Seanad. Will the Leader give a guarantee that, if Senator Higgins were to resign his seat and thereby cause a casual vacancy, Fianna Fáil would not contest that vacancy to ensure that the seat would be given to a representative of the emigrant community? Given that the Government parties could decide to put one their members into the seat, this result could only be achieved with cross-party agreement.

Senator Higgins wants to resign from the House and ensure that his replacement is somebody from the emigrant community. He is sincere about this and we should be equally sincere to the many people throughout this country who believe it is right and proper that an emigrant's voice be heard in this House. This is an opportunity to do that for the next 12 to 14 months or whatever time remains between now and the next general election. I ask my colleagues to consider this issue seriously and to offer this opportunity. The Taoiseach has said that he wants the group leaders in the House to resolve the matter. That can be done if all the political parties will agree, in effect, not to take this seat if a by-election is caused. This is a way forward and I ask Members to expedite the matter as soon as possible.