Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

The most recent report on Seanad reform, which forms part of the motion before the House, was not agreed on an all-party basis and there were many dissenting voices in the Fianna Fáil Party on a range of its proposals. I propose first to respond to some of the comments made on the proposals regarding the university Members. Before entering the Seanad I considered it somewhat discriminatory to allow two universities elect six Senators. To be fair, however, since becoming a Senator, I have found that the university Members make a valuable contribution to the House. While I disagree with them on many occasions on a range of topics, they bring a dimension to the House which would be missed were they to cease being Members.