Martin Brady (Fianna Fail)

I wish to share time with Senator Mullen, if that is agreed. I am very proud to be a Member of the Seanad. The general public tell me all the time that the level of debate in the Seanad is much better than that in the other House. There are many eminent Members in this Chamber.

Regarding reform, Senators Norris and Ross stated that insiders elect insiders. My first time to run for the Seanad was at the last election and it is not an easy job to get elected. I would not like to have to go through it again. It is a democratic system.

In the last session the Seanad dealt with 1,200 amendments. The work is there and Senators perform it well. We sat on 100 days which is more than the Dáil.

There is one reform I would like to see. Since I came to the House I have seen Taoiseach's nominees deserting the ship and going over to another party. There should be some regulation concerning that. The sitting Taoiseach nominated a person who then moved to another party.