Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

The Leader should not demur at a compliment. It is right to engage in this discussion. We have established a sub-committee under my chairmanship, as Senators know, which picks up on the work of the Leader's sub-committee. The sub-committee touched on the area of public consultation, which is interesting. I am pleased to say that Senator Tuffy's motion offers clarification in that regard in her focus on how the concept of a petitions committee could be developed, without cutting across other agencies, to create a sense of engagement. Significantly, the sub-committee did not mention a petitions committee, perhaps because its focus was different.

Following the sub-committee's report and on foot of a request from the Taoiseach and in consultation with all the party leaders, I established an informal all-party parliamentary group on Seanad reform. It would be untruthful, however, to suggest that it has made any rapid progress.