Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

It is true that nothing is ever perfect, irrespective of whether it is in vogue for a long or short time. As an elected forum, the Seanad is no different and it should be pushing out the boat in terms of how it does its business, how it is comprised and how it is perceived. Some do not see the Seanad in a good light but, as a House of the Legislature, its Members can be proud of how it reviews legislation. Its teasing out of legislation has been of proven benefit to Governments, both past and present.

Much has been said about the role of the universities. I have no problem with the universities or the inclusion of other third level institutions on the university panel, but we should consider a group that has been bypassed and overlooked for many years, namely, the borough and town councillors. They are elected but are not represented in this House. There are five county boroughs, with a total 60 members. There are 36 members from three 12-member town councils and 414 from 46 town councils, formerly called district councils, and 234 from former town commissions. This results in a grand total of 744 elected members without representation in this House. They are under the umbrella body of the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland. It is well worth noting that a certain town, as opposed to a borough, that was represented until recently by at least one Member of this House has a greater population than either of two counties. The latter have county councils and I therefore support the retention of the right to representation.

I am not entirely happy with the proposal to reduce the input of county councillors on the five vocational panels. I have no difficulty in extending the number of seats in the Seanad to 65 to accommodate representatives from Northern Ireland, ethnic groups and immigrants or emigrants. I have no difficulty in supporting strongly the automatic return to the House of the Cathaoirleach. This is long overdue.