Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Ba bhreá liom a rá arís go maire tú do phost, a Chathaoirligh. Tá sé tuillte go maith agat. I have the privilege of being the group representative, as the word "leader" should never go beside a group of independents. If it does, it should be used with quote marks, as Senator Norris frequently reminded the last so-called leader of the Independent Senators. As group representative of the university Independent Senators, I have the honour of congratulating you, a Chathaoirligh, on your appointment.

I also take this opportunity to congratulate the new Senators here today and the members of their families and loved ones in the Visitors Gallery. It is not the first time there has been a large influx of new Senators in the House. I estimate there are 34 new Members who have not previously been Members of the Dáil, Seanad or the European Parliament. This augurs well. I welcome in particular the 11 Members nominated by the Taoiseach. It has been well said that these nominations by the Taoiseach are both exciting and innovative. It is not usual to recognise so many names among the Taoiseach's 11 nominees, and that is not to take from those nominees who are political party members. It is an exciting and interesting choice, as I said.

It would not be in keeping with the best traditions of independent Senators or independent politicians were I to cavil to any degree; one naysayer did suggest, on seeing the list, that the Taoiseach had been taken prisoner to some extent by the left-wing intellectuals of the Labour Party. Personally, I would have liked to have seen a clearer vindication of the need to include all strands of opinion in our representative democracy. More visible representatives of the thinking approach to the traditional values that form such a constituency in Irish life would perhaps have been welcome. However, that does not take in any way from my high estimation of those who have appointed, nor does it seek to prejudge the potential of genuine diversity among the ranks on the Government side. It is merely to say that it should not be left to the graduates of the National University of Ireland to supply the necessary diversity, although I am glad they did so in such resounding terms.

This leads me to a challenge, of which Kelvin MacKenzie, former editor of the The Sun, was aware when he and his journalists were once treated to what could only be described as a boozy lunch by some business people or vested interests who wanted to tame them in some way. After a lengthy liquid lunch, Mr. MacKenzie took his journalists back to the office where he said to them, "Now boys and girls, let us stun them with our ingratitude." My invitation to the Taoiseach's 11 nominees is to stun the Taoiseach with their ingratitude by being genuinely independent, unpredictable and diverse voices. That challenge should not be issued to the Taoiseach's nominees only. It must be extended and issued to all Seanadóirí on the Government side. Whether the Seanad has a future will depend on our capacity to act more like a chamber of 60 independent representatives of the people rather than as unthinking followers and slavish obeyers of the party Whip. It is only in that respect that I dissent from Senator Norris's excellent speech, in which he invited us to be disciplined. My suggestion to those on the Government side is that they should not be too disciplined. It would be much better were they to come here with considered and carefully researched contributions and feel no fear about dissenting with the party line. It is when it descends from the party line that Seanad Éireann is at its best.

I congratulate my new Sinn Féin colleague on his well made point, if I understand it correctly, that the people should not be presented with a simple choice to abolish the Seanad or keep it as it is. Dressing up such a choice as a genuine attempt at political reform would be a parody of the truth and what is needed. I have suggested, as have others, that the correct approach would be to offer the people an initial opportunity to decide the way we should go. I suggested the holding of a preferendum which could be held in conjunction with the Presidential election, when the people would have an opportunity to decide on a number of possible options, including abolition, leaving it as it is, or having some kind of reformed Chamber that would provide, among other things, for the right of every citizen to participate in the election of Seanadóirí. Having established the primary wishes of citizens, we could then prepare a final proposal that could be put to the people on the same day as the next local elections are held. That would be a much more considered approach to political reform. What we have had so far is not worthy of either our political system or the people. The leader of the main Opposition party offered a simplistic solution and the leaders of the other two main parties rushed lemming-like to support him.

Let us move towards being thinking parliamentarians. Let us seek to restore credibility to the legislative arm of our democracy. We can only do that if those who subscribe to the party whip recognise that it ought to be much lighter in this Chamber than it is in the other. I hope all will find their independent streak. That will be the test. That will shape public opinion about the future of the Seanad much more than anything else will.

It has been stated that we have had happy days and sad days recently and that is very true. We have happy days and sad days ahead as well. In our efforts to contribute to improvement in the country we need to recognise that many of the debates on economic issues will be outside of our capacity to decide. Some of the most important debates in the Seanad in future will take place around social issues, around the shape and texture of the society we want to create, about how we deal with a diminishing pot of resources and the key values we want to emphasise in our democracy.

I welcome the members of the media and ask them not to be strangers. They should put us to the test by their presence so that we will feel under the necessary pressure or encouragement - depending on which word one prefers - to come in here with considered, thoughtful and carefully researched answers and suggestions to deal with the challenges we all face. A Chathaoirligh, go maire tú do phost arís.