Seanad debates

Wednesday, 21 October 2009

3:00 pm

Photo of John Gerard HanafinJohn Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader for a debate on our democratic institutions. There has been a specific proposal to abolish the Seanad. It must not be forgotten that there is a good, democratic reason for having a bicameral system, although there is need for reform. Ironically, the reports to date have mainly dealt with electoral reform, but it is the way in which we do our business that is most in need of reform. We could serve very well by taking in issues such as Northern Ireland and Europe, as well as having foreign Heads of State address the Seanad. By having more flexibility, we could go straight from the Order of Business into topical issues of the day.

Not only was it proposed to abolish this main democratic institution, there was also a second proposal, which nobody seems to have examined properly, for committees to have quasi-judicial functions. This is a serious attempt to undermine the Judiciary. There is a clear reason for judicial independence, including the Haughey judgment and the Ardagh judgment. Recent events in the Lower House have shown that due process and justice were not upheld. We do not want a situation whereby committees are not giving proper justice to people by taking powers unto themselves that properly belong to the Judiciary. Both the measures proposed this week could be quite dangerous.

I am also seeking a debate on long-term unemployment. We need to look at the changing role of FÁS, which is currently in the spotlight.

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