Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

If we want to reform the House, we should talk about all of us, bearing in mind that none of us is perfect.

I agree with Senator O'Toole that the House, as presently constituted, cannot keep going. We need to reform the manner in which we get elected. I am not a bit afraid of having change. We should have a referendum to vote on change in the manner in which all of us are elected. I refer to the six university seats and the vocational panels. Perhaps we should get rid of the Taoiseach's nominees and have a wide-ranging election, perhaps on the same day as a European election. Let us have direct election by the people and allow councillors and graduates to continue to have a vote while at the same time changing the whole system.

Let us not be afraid of change. Naval gazing and patting on the back will not get us anywhere. This House is not perfect, nor is the Dáil. No House of Parliament anywhere is perfect but we should be open to change. Let the Government introduce legislation to make change. Let us stop talking about it. Let us stop hiding and introduce change. This Bill may not be perfect but it represents an attempt to introduce change.