Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

Having said that, the franchise should be extended to include all third level institutions. I do not concur with those who argue for the abolition of the electoral mandate for graduates of third level institutions.

There is a notion that we should adopt a list system because this model is used elsewhere and is more democratic. Nobody stops to ask who would draw up the list, how it would be drawn up and what criteria would be applied. I have no doubts about how this would be done and will oppose any move towards the creation of a list system for Seanad elections. The current system may have some defects but, as Senator Alex White noted, Senators have a mandate. While Senator Norris may argue that a Senator may be elected with just 50, 60 or 70 votes, each of these votes probably represents 1,000 electors. Those who elect councillors at local government level give them a mandate to take decisions on their behalf. Many of these decisions impact directly on the people councillors represent. There is nothing anomalous about the fact that they also exercise this mandate to elect Members of the Upper House of the Oireachtas.

It may be necessary to extend the franchise to all councillors as only a little over half of councillors at county and city council level currently have a right to vote. It may also be necessary to change the vocational panels. While they probably had a purpose in 1937 when the Seanad was established, their resonance is missing today and they are no longer the best method of electing Senators. We could adopt regionalisation, an approach frequently suggested during election campaigns when one travels the country. While certain reforms may be necessary, fundamentally there is nothing flawed about indirectly electing Members to the House through local representatives.

Senator Doherty referred to the Taoiseach's nominees. I do not know how one could abolish this system while ensuring a working majority for Government in the House. This is a practical difficulty which those who served in the rainbow coalition from 1994 to 1997 experienced when they introduced legislation. As somebody who lobbied on particular issues in the marine area from the outside during that period, I recall engaging the Independent Senators with a view to thwarting the measures the then Government was endeavouring to introduce. I see some sense in looking at a better or more effective method of doing it, if there is one, but I cannot think of anything better.

I feel particularly strongly about Northern Ireland representation. The House can play a pivotal role by having among its Members all shades of political opinion on this island. We should have a minimum of ten Members from Northern Ireland. I have discussed this with Unionists and people interested in the development of politics on this island who have a role to play. They have said that without a minimum number it would be too difficult for them to take part, as they are so easily isolated within their communities and parties. This should not be done by nomination, but by election and our current system would be one way to do it. We should work through the various conduits we have with politicians of all shades in the North to try and bring this about. This would be a major step in rationalising political thinking on the island.