Dan Boyle (Green Party)

The recently agreed renewed programme for Government includes the Electoral Commission reporting within 12 months on the election to Seanad Éireann. This will require a constitutional referendum. Before we debate this issue in detail - the Leader of the Opposition in the other House must consider this - I call for a referendum Bill to be submitted. Let it show what a referendum on deleting or even reforming the Seanad would look like. There are at least 20 references to the Seanad in the Constitution.