Jimmy Harte (Labour)

I am not finished at all. My proposal, which I would ask the Leader to refer to the CPP, is that this Seanad should meet outside Dublin on perhaps one occasion every year. Article 15.1.3° of the Constitution states:

The Houses of the Oireachtas shall sit in or near the City of Dublin or in such other place as they may from time to time determine.

I ask that the House give this some consideration. I am sure my colleague, Senator Ó Domhnaill, would not disagree that it should be held in County Donegal for the first time and after that it could sit in Galway, Cork and Kerry, to name but a few counties. The people have to see the Seanad is active and not just in Dublin. Many of the new Senators are from rural Ireland and they would like to see the Seanad sitting one day a year in another place, perhaps in the Cathaoirleach's own county of Mayo which I am sure would be second after County Donegal. I would not object to that.