John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

Many people in a knee-jerk reaction just say that we need Seanad reform. Some of the ideas put forward were nothing short of hare-brained. We were told, for instance, that the Seanad elections would take place on the same day as the Dáil elections. How could we possible meet our electorate if they are out canvassing for votes? How could an electorate be asked to elect, say, 20 or 30 Seanad Members when the quota is in or around 50,000, and then tell those people that they cannot deal with financial matters?

People who give this reaction should think long and hard about the benefits and the system that operates in this House. We have a wonderful opportunity at the moment. Will the Leader write to the Chair of the sub-committee of the Joint Committee on European Affairs that is looking at how the Oireachtas will deal with the new requirements under the Lisbon treaty? The Seanad is ideally placed to deal with the new requirements for dealing with EU directives, so much so that we have the panels that represent each of the different facets of Irish life represented in this House. If we did not have that, we should set up a committee to deal with these directives which would have such representation. We already have it. Let people think long and hard before they give knee-jerk reactions.

Incidentally, I suggest that the level of interruptions in this House has got out of hand. It should not be allowed and it should be brought up at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.