Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

Past and present Cathaoirligh have been very badly treated by the system that has obtained to date in the Seanad. If nothing is done other than addressing this, a good day's work will still be done.

Nobody, including Members of the Oireachtas, will be too offended if I say the level of debate in this House is excellent. The contributions of Members on all sides have been innovative, reforming and productive. Above all, they have proven more than worthy in terms of upgrading and introducing legislation.

The report on Seanad reform recommends significant reform of the Seanad electoral system, including the rolling renewal of the Seanad and the introduction of direct election to a single 26-seat constituency. Reform involves a number of facets. I am not entirely satisfied or happy that the number of Senators elected by the county councils, county borough councillors, incoming Dáil Deputies and outgoing Senators should be reduced. The selection of only 20 would be unsatisfactory.

The point made on elected Members constituting a college is not only pertinent to Ireland but is also reflected in many jurisdictions worldwide. At the request of the Taoiseach, an informal all-party parliamentary group on Seanad reform was established in 2005 and chaired by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Of the 43 Members elected by county boroughs to the five vocational panels, only one was elected to the group, yet the five panels contain 43 Members of a 60-Member House. This bears thinking about. The informal reform group addressed proposals that attracted early consensus and which are capable of implementation in the short to medium term. Prior to the general election, the group referred to a number of draft Standing Order changes concerning the Committee on Procedure and Privileges of Seanad Éireann, to be piloted as sessional orders.