Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran. I congratulate Senators Cummins and Coghlan on their initiative in introducing this Bill. I assume they have done so in the context of a difficult atmosphere in the Fine Gael Party, the leadership of which has determined that the abolition of the Seanad is desirable.

I wish to express my personal views on Seanad reform. Eight years have passed since I was first elected to this House. I have been involved in many debates on reform proposals. I was a Senator when substantial cross-party reports were published under the leadership of Deputy O'Rourke. I appreciate that the Minister of State has said an independent electoral commission will be established. The fatal flaw or handicap in our entire system is its inability at times to allow decisions to be made. The stones on the road probably know how the contribution of the Seanad could be usefully maximised. The Minister of State is well aware of the need for reform, as he said in his speech, having been a strong advocate for it during his many years as a councillor and as an excellent Member of this House.

I would like to speak about the inability of the hierarchy of the political establishment to make the necessary changes. All of this country's political entities, particularly Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour Party, have sought since the foundation of the State to preserve the status quo, in effect. I have never known a Senator from any side of the House - Independent or otherwise - who is not a strong and enthusiastic advocate of substantial Seanad reform in the interests of the people. It is hugely frustrating, however, that we have consistently been told reports will be compiled and bodies will be established - in this case, an independent electoral commission.

The Members of the Oireachtas have developed tangible proposals for meaningful reforms that would help to streamline this country's democratic process. The people want reforms that represent their views and, above all, are not as pedestrian as many of the reforms we seek to make in these Houses. They want decisions to be made instantly and change to happen quickly, as is the case in the private sector. The decisions that are made in these Houses usually involve the establishment of an independent commission or review group. We have to talk to civil servants and see what they think. The matter is then reviewed again independently at some phenomenal cost to the State. The point is usually reached at which the proposed reform has been questioned so much that it is obsolete and the process needs to be started all over again.

I agree with Senator O'Malley that if the people were truly informed of the level of debate on and scrutiny of the various legislative proposals that come to this House, including EU legislation, they would have much more confidence in our political system, even with the flaws that exist. The media, for one reason or another, has decided not to cover the workings of this House in any meaningful way. Many people in the public service, the Civil Service and - not least - the media look down their noses at the work of these Houses. Senator O'Malley referred to the debate on the National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009. Over approximately 70 hours, the legislation in question was teased out, changes were made and a number of recommendations were accepted by the Minister. We should acknowledge for once that change is required in these Houses. We do not need another report or the input of an independent electoral commission. Genuine political will is needed not to preserve the status quo but to make the changes that are needed. Everyone who has ever served in this House knows that such changes can be made.

Senator Cummins will fully understand that I am bound by the Whip. I will meet my responsibilities in that regard when I vote on this Bill. I commend him on having the courage, in the face of opposition within his own party, to introduce this small piece of the kind of reform that is needed. I accept that Senator O'Malley would like a universal franchise, although there are various views on that. I suggest that in the interim, we could continue to be nominated by county councillors. I was elected on the industrial and commercial panel, which has between 50 and 60 nominating bodies. If we are to have additional nominating bodies, I do not see why the Local Authority Members Association should be excluded from consideration in that regard.