Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I ask the Leader for an update on the report on Seanad reform. A couple of years ago the Leader was personally associated with reports that the Seanad was to be reformed. It was stated at the time that the Minister, Deputy Cullen, was to oversee this reform and the Taoiseach was to be involved in some way. This was to be done in the lifetime of this Seanad but the report has been left on the shelf for more than a year since it was published.

Seanad reform should be implemented before the next election in approximately a year. Proposals were made to broaden the franchise from that of graduates and that there should be an element of direct elections to the Seanad. This is a democratic forum and if we have made recommendations then they should be implemented. We should not be sitting here in a few years' time — I hope I will not be——