Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

What is happening to the critical legislation to which the partners committed themselves in the programme for Government, of which we have not had sight and we are some eight of nine weeks into this term? That needs to be dealt with.

In regard to European affairs, we recommended that all MEPs elected on the island of Ireland should have the right to attend and speak in the Seanad but not vote. We are talking about real links between Leinster House and Brussels in the work ongoing at European level that increasingly influences our everyday lives. That suggestion is included in the recommendations in the report of the sub-committee.

We face a challenge in getting members of the public on-side to support the EU reform treaty and ensuring they understand its provisions, of which currently they have little understanding. A major challenge faces us to ensure the people understand what they will be voting on in a referendum on the reform treaty, if we are not to have a repeat of the outcome of the Nice treaty referendum. There is an opportunity here for the Seanad to play a strong role in European affairs.

The report of the sub-committee contains many recommendations. While it is not possible to go through all of them, the attendance here of former Taoisigh should be encouraged. That is an important recommendation and is a feature of other democracies. The attendance of the Leader of the Seanad at Cabinet is another important recommendation. Deputy Mary O'Rourke said at the time of the publication of the report that she did not wish to be appointed to Cabinet in her then role. She need not have worried so slow was the action on the report.