Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I congratulate the Leader for organising it.

I am on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs and I believe we need to do far more work with regard to the scrutiny of European legislation. If we do not do so in committees we could use the Seanad to do so. When I spoke in April 2004, I mentioned the need for changing the Constitution and I know there is great difficulty in doing so. We change it only for the electoral system. If we are going to change it again for the university electoral system we must to consider how seriously we can do so.

All, including those of us fortunate enough to have been elected by NUI and Trinity, recognise the unfairness of the system. I apologise to Senator Buttimer. When he stated he was a graduate of Maynooth, I assumed he had a vote. I recognise not only this college but other third-level colleges do not have a vote. It would be useful for them to have a vote. Having this system of election is of major benefit and extending it to nine seats, which has been suggested, would also be extremely useful.

I do not agree entirely with Senator Bacik with regard to the 11 nominations of the Taoiseach. One of the benefits of this is that it makes the House less confrontational because the Government usually has a majority. I have great difficulty with the five vocational panels being party political. It is beneficial to have independent seats. During the period from December 1994 to the change of Government in 1997 when the Taoiseach nominees from the previous Government remained, the joy of being one of the five Independent Senators with the balance of power made it well worthwhile. We had more forceful and capable debates. Let us hope something similar happens again.