Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senator Keaveney called for Ministers to be on a rota. Perhaps all good ideas such as this could be put to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges under the chairmanship of the Cathaoirleach. That committee considers deviation from Standing Orders and creating new opportunities, views and ideas. This idea is worthy of such consideration. We could take the proposal to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and see how it could be teased out by its members.

Senators Hanafin, Norris and Bacik have proposed an amendment on Seanad reform to the Order of Business. Senator Hanafin brought this to my attention on the Order of Business yesterday and his proposal regarding ten new positions in Seanad Éireann to accommodate the various strands and views is certainly worthy of consideration. Perhaps in the long term there will be a 32-county Ireland where we will need extra seats in both the Dáil and Seanad.