Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)

This is an important motion on a small change that can and will be accommodated in an effort to make this House more relevant to the general public, to those who elected us and for those who have been appointed to this House.

I would not like to see the choice being between abolition or retention of the Seanad, the question should be asked in the context of the total reform of our politics. The Dáil must be reduced in numbers. As an elected representative in a constituency with two Senators, five TDs and seven councillors, I went to a public meeting last October and every Oireachtas representative and councillor was at the meeting which was attended by ten members of the public. There must be change. I was a local authority member and local authorities play an important role, they are connected to the people. Last Monday, there were council meetings up and down the country. No one really knows what went on at them, unless the media happened to report them, but important business was being done by people representing their constituents and trying to improve their lot. Democracy is important. In this House we represent those who have elected us and those who have been nominated to the House have a responsibility to speak on issues they feel are of concern to their constituency.

If we go back to basics, the primary function of this House is to scrutinise legislation. The other issues are important, such as inviting representatives to speak on issues of concern, but scrutiny is our main function. Today we discussed the Finance Bill and the Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill. That is important business, and as long as this Dáil lasts, that will continue to be the business of this Seanad. The introduction to the programme for Government states that by the end of the term in Government, Ireland will be recognised as a modern, fair, socially inclusive and equal society supported by a productive and prosperous economy. This House will have an important role to play in the delivery of that ambition.

We must bear in mind there is a record of everything that is said in this House and that record will be there in 20 or 50 years. When I was writing my speaking notes today, I was listening to an interview on "Drivetime" with Mary Raftery about the Magdalene laundries and there were references to the debates in this House and the Dáil at the time. What we say will be revisited in future to see what the issues of concern were. Reform of the Seanad and our contributions during this debate and the course of this Seanad will be noted.

This term in the Seanad will be important and I have no doubt changes will result from the convention on the Constitution to which the Minister referred and the referendum. Change is always for the better. If we do not change, we will always get the same results. Is that what we want? I favour reform, as we must move forward, but it must be done in the context of reform of the Dáil and the Seanad, as well as local government, as a strengthened local government system could play a very important role.

A point that should have been made concerns the importance of the role of the committees. The Leader will announce the membership of the committees tomorrow and they will then be established. They provide a forum for witnesses to answer questions from members, but they do not receive the media attention they deserve. We must take the business of Parliament seriously. The record will show that worthy contributions are made by Oireachtas Members from all sides.