Martin Brady (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his comprehensive contribution. LAMA is an extremely efficient organisation and does a very good job. The Minister of State referred to amalgamating various organisations and I support him in that regard. As a former trade unionist, I was involved in the amalgamation of a number of unions. I am aware, therefore, that when bodies or organisations are amalgamated, their clout and authority increase. Amalgamation is the direction we should take because scattered groups do not have as much power as one large entity.

Senators Doherty and Hannigan referred to piecemeal change. I agree with them that a piecemeal approach is not the route we should take. The Minister of State has indicated that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, is giving consideration to establishing an electoral commission on a statutory basis. Such a body would discuss the issue with which we are dealing and others.

Many aspects of the Seanad must be examined in order that we might make it more relevant to the public. People actually believe we do damn all. There is a perception that we come here, collect our money, sit on a couple of occasions each week and do not discuss any matters of great importance. The Seanad is viewed, more or less, as a form of debating society. One can understand why there is this perception. We must do what we can to make the House more relevant.

The system used for electing people to the Seanad must be examined. Senator Hannigan is correct to state one needs a great deal of money in order to run for election to this House. One probably needs more money to participate in a Seanad election than in a general election. As the Senator indicated, one is obliged to give out goodies, put people up in hotels, treat various individuals to dinner and do umpteen other things. When I sought election to the Seanad, a number of people said to me, "So and so was here before you and you know he is a very generous man."

We need to find a way to alter the system which is outdated. I do not often agree with Senator Doherty but it has become a club of "scratch my back and I'll scratch yours". It has even developed small groups, which I can see in here, which hunt together like hounds in a pack. That should be changed.

I have no problem with the Senator's Bill. I would like to see a broader overhaul of the system. The public has a very poor perception of the Seanad because we do not get sufficient coverage from the media, and when we get coverage, it is unhelpful. As has been stated, we must take a broader view and not just cherry`-pick issues. Senator Wilson has returned. I thought he had gone on a junket.