David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

Tá mé an-sásta bheith anseo mar Sheanadóir. On behalf of Sinn Féin, I welcome the appointment of Senator Paddy Burke as Cathaoirleach. He has the full support of the full Sinn Féin team in the House. My party looks forward to working with him constructively in the months and years ahead. I commend Senator Maurice Cummins, who is to become Leader of the House if rumours are to be believed. He is a fellow Waterford man and I look forward to working with him also.

On behalf of Sinn Féin team, I extend our sympathies to the family of the late Dr. Garret FitzGerald. As with other Senators, I look forward to making a further contribution in this regard.

I welcome my party colleagues, Senator Kathryn Reilly from Cavan and Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh from Galway. I am very proud to stand here as Sinn Féin group leader in the Seanad as part of an enlarged Sinn Féin team and as part of an enlarged Sinn Féin team in the Oireachtas as a whole. We want to play a very constructive role in the Oireachtas and deal with the very real and substantive political, social and economic challenges faced by the country at present.

On behalf of my party, I very much welcome the Taoiseach's nominations. The Taoiseach has shown imagination and it is good that he has chosen people from across a broad spectrum of society. I welcome the fact that the nominated Senators will act as Independents and will be free from a party Whip. I state, however, that nobody should be appointed to this House. We should have a Seanad, a second Chamber elected by the people. Senator Norris first stated extinction was a possibility for this House. The House, as currently constituted, should become extinct. If it is to have a future - my party and I believe there is room for a second Chamber-----