Seanad debates
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Order of Business.
3:00 pm
Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
Is féidir liom comhghairdeas a thabhairt do mo chara, Seanadóir Cummins. I did not have the opportunity to do so last week because, as a colleague said, we were awaiting the official confirmation. I am delighted the Senator has taken up this role. I also praise him for a presentation of considerable substance that he outlined to the House.
I have a number of brief questions. On the issue of Seanad reform, will the Leader consider at some point providing Government time to allow a debate on proposals as to how the Seanad should organise its business? I appreciate this is in the Government's remit and that the Leader, in his role of representing the Government in this House, will set the Order of Business. I am particularly interested to hear the views of the newly elected Members of this House, some 38 of them, who, considering their large depth of expertise and world experience in a variety of different areas, would perhaps bring new, fresh thinking to the debates that have already taken place.
Will the Leader consider at some point providing Government time for a debate on the Irish diaspora on a regular basis? Those who know me will know that, wearing my other hat as a broadcaster and as a former emigrant, I have championed the cause of the Irish abroad inside and outside this House. I am privileged to currently present a monthly radio programme on RTE, "The Irish Abroad", which will come to the end of its series this month. In that context, the fact that the Tánaiste has been appointed not only Minister for Foreign Affairs but Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade indicates that the Government is aware of the growing importance of the Irish diaspora in various parts of the world where the Irish gather. I am astonished at the number of Irish societies which are not only involved in social activities in their adopted countries across the world, particularly in Europe and Asia, but which have used their network of contacts in recent years to promote not only the image of Ireland but the trade and commerce links that are continually growing between ourselves and various other countries, particularly in the larger economies. Considering that the Government allocates some €11 million, at the last count, towards funding Irish diaspora activities, with the bulk of that money going to the UK, particularly in the area of social outreach where there is an ageing population, but also to Australia, Canada and America, it would be a useful exercise and would send a strong signal to our diaspora that those of us in these Houses of Parliament have not forgotten them and that we are aware of the issues confronting them, especially the new Irish emigrants who are leaving.
The Leader made some reference to committees. My understanding is that the Government proposal is not only to reduce the number of committees but to reduce the membership of the surviving committees. This would pose a particular difficulty for this House in that if the number of members of the committees were reduced, the number of Seanad representatives would be proportionately reduced. I urge the Leader to fight the corner for this House to ensure that we get not only numerical representation based on whatever system is used but a more relevant representation that would embrace all the various strands of thinking within this House.
The first day of the new Seanad last week was largely ceremonial. Those of us who were here on the first day of a previous Seanad would know that. There was only one issue on the Order of Business, namely, the election of the Cathaoirleach. As a mark of respect, courtesy and friendship to the newly elected Cathaoirleach, in my contribution I single that out. I would be the first to admit that it is not a contribution that would rank alongside Cicero, the brilliant orator referred to earlier. That was the nature of that first day. I deeply regret that an elected Member of this House saw fit, as Andy Warhol said, to pursue his "15 minutes of fame" on national radio by denigrating myself and a colleague of this House.
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