Dan Boyle (Green Party)

I withdraw that. The basis of what I said is that the existence of a place on the list is determined by a small number of people, which is an even greater diminution of the electoral process. We should examine this.

It is important, in order to get greater public acceptance of the important work we do as Senators, that we get a degree of public involvement in the selection of Members of this House. This was the most important recommendation of the last report. The degree to which we can agree that and the extent to which we can bring in the necessary proposals for constitutional change will determine how successful the 23rd Seanad is in ensuring we have a vibrant Seanad in the future.

I am glad there is consensus the legislative changes should be made with regard to the universities will be made in the short term. The committee to be established by the Minister will have as part of its brief a reason not only to advance that legislation, but to ensure that in the course of this Seanad we make proposals for constitutional change. Otherwise, any bringing forward of particular legislation would be unfair to the spirit of the existing and all preceding reports. Either we believe in change that is consensual and wide-ranging, or we will continue without any change at all.

I welcome the Leader's call to return to this issue. I am glad I and my colleague, Deputy Déirdre de Búrca, have had the opportunity to use Private Members' time to raise this important issue of discussion early in the life of this Seanad. The promise of a full day's debate in February on the wider issues, following the formation of the committee and, hopefully, after it has made an early assessment of its work, will give the House another opportunity to deal with how it can advance the agenda for change. I thank all Senators for their contributions.