James Bannon (Fine Gael)

For us in the Seanad, the potential of such a committee is enormous. While the Seanad has the freedom to look at issues that are perhaps not always on the political radar, we may not be as effective in dealing with public concerns and suggestions as we should be. It seems to me that we have a case in point in the Government Green Paper on energy, which was as noteworthy for what it left out as for what was in it, and it might have benefited from such a committee. Ideas on the environment and regarding the economic instability threatened by rising energy costs might come from petitions to such a committee.

Constitutional reform would no doubt be an important part of the committee's work, with particular reference to the rights of minorities. Notwithstanding Senator Norris's Bill on civil unions, a concept that my party was the first to favour as far back as 2004, more could be discussed in this House and the Oireachtas in general on issues relating to the gay community, not least the disgraceful level of homophobic violence, particularly in Dublin.