Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

To an extent Senator Harris has stolen my thunder because I was about to state this House had been established by the State's founding fathers to include minorities and particularly in order that the voice of the Protestant religion, as well as Unionist voices, would be heard here. Therefore, it is compatible with this intention for Members collectively to support the call made by the Senator and others for support for Protestant schools. He has put the argument extremely well. Many of the pupils in such fee-paying schools would not be in a position to cover the cost were they to be deprived of the funding of which they have been in receipt. I add my voice to that call.

I support Senator MacSharry's request for a debate on social partnership. Were such a debate to be facilitated, the Leader should arrange to have a representative from the IMF to address the House as part of that debate. Such a person could tell Members what action has been taken in other countries that found themselves in the fiscal difficulties we now face, or perhaps worse, and what were the remedies in those cases. That might be a patent lesson for all Members.

I wish to comment briefly on the general debate today. Before I was old enough to vote, I campaigned in my first electoral campaign, Jack Lynch's referendum campaign in 1968 to seek to change the electoral system from the single transferable vote system. A debate is required on both the Seanad and the overall democratic institutions of the State to ascertain how they can be improved in the light of modern requirements and demands. One should be careful in how one approaches this issue as such an approach must be considered and comprehensive. The proposal from the Leader of the Opposition to reduce the number of democratically elected Members of these Houses from 226 to 126 would have serious ramifications for the entire issue of democracy. In particular, when one considers the failure of State agencies such as the Financial Regulator and the Central Bank in the face of the current economic crisis, I think greater, rather than less, political scrutiny is required to ensure the various agencies of the State are performing effectively. Dismantling our democratic institutions would be fraught with danger and require the most careful consideration. It is not something to be thrown out purely to get media coverage at a social event.