Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following:

"Seanad Éireann

— recognises the importance of full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement in strengthening North-South co-operation and encouraging lasting reconciliation;

— recognises the Government's commitment to constitutional reform as set out in the programme for Government and as demonstrated in the arrangements made within seven months of taking office to hold two constitutional referendums;

— looks forward to the establishment of a constitutional convention to consider further constitutional reform as promised in the programme for Government including reducing the presidential term to five years, aligning it with local and European elections.".

Ba mhaith liom fíor fáilte a chur roimh ár gcuairteoirí and I welcome this important debate. All parties recognise its importance. Tá sé an-thábhachtach cearta a thabhairt dár ngaolta agus do gach Éireannach atá thar lear, ach b'fhéidir nach í seo an chaoi chun an dlí a athrú. This is very important issue but we must evaluate the ways we amend our laws and the Constitution.

The 2004 report on Seanad reform recommended that Northern Ireland have representation in Seanad Éireann. This is a very good recommendation and one that the House could take up. The review could be facilitated by the North-South implementation bodies which came into existence through the Good Friday Agreement. Waterways Ireland, the Food Safety Promotion Board, the Trade and Business Development Body, the Special EU Programmes Body, the North-South Language Body and the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission are currently accountable to the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly as well as the North South Ministerial Council.

I welcome Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly to the Seanad for this important debate. Many potential benefits are to be found, in political, economic and social spheres, in the work of the North-South co-operation process. I will deal later with the important issue of constitutional and voting rights. There is no formal mechanism by which the work of the bodies I have mentioned can be evaluated. The report on reform of the Seanad stated that representatives from Northern Ireland could make a valuable contribution to Seanad proceedings. This could be valuable in the context of a review of and role for the Seanad.

The Government has stated many times that it recognises the importance of full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement through North-South co-operation, thus encouraging lasting reconciliation. Article 1, section 6 of the agreement, with which I am sure everyone is familiar, refers to the "birthright" of all people of Northern Ireland "to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British citizens, or both" and [the important bit] "as they may so choose" and accordingly to confirm that right to hold British and Irish citizenship is accepted. However, citizenship and voting rights are different, a point I will address later. It also states that Governments would not be affected by any future change in the status of Northern Ireland and deals with an extension to the right of citizenship, an issue which we must look at now.

I have heard the Minister speak on this issue. I also heard the Taoiseach's response in the Dáil on the issue of citizenship and voting rights. The constitutional review group has been established and will examine all of these issues. The Sinn Féin motion before us today pre-empts any decision which the constitutional review group may be charged to take. I do not believe that the role of the Seanad at this point is to pre-empt any decisions of that body before it commences its work. I will not do so. The Government must table an amendment to the motion if we are to take the constitutional review group seriously.

The limitations and connotations that may be extended were this right extended remain to be worked out. There are so many questions to be answered. I do not have time in the six minutes speaking time allocated to me to go into all of the details that need to be looked at. That is the work of the constitutional review group. We all know what we have to do at this point in time. It is hard enough to keep an eye on an electoral register and to ensure that everyone who is registered to vote is who they say they are. So many permeations and connotations have to be examined.

Formation of the North-South parliamentary forum and North-South consultative forum remains outstanding. I anticipate that these will be a positive development in furthering North-South relations. I thank the Minister, whom I forgot to welcome to the House earlier, for gracing us with his presence here so often, which we appreciate. I ask that he consider, along with the North-South consultative forum, the formation of a consultative body at local authority level, for example, a North-South consultative body for councillors. Senator Walsh and I were members of the North-South body on the Confederation of European Councillors, which lasted for about five years and had the support of the Peace II programme. I ask the Minister to consider putting that back on the agenda. We are talking here about North-South relations and where better to start than from the ground up, namely, local authority level up.

The Government is committed to political reform, as outlined in the programme for Government. Consideration will also be given to a reduction from seven to five years in the term of office of the President. The convention is also set to examine the possibility of amending the clause in respect of women in the home. Three or four issues will be examined in that context. There is broad consensus in the House that change needs to happen. However, we need to ensure that in bringing about that change we do not try do so in six minutes or by way of a debate. We must ensure everything is considered. I look forward to the review in that regard.

The Taoiseach has confirmed that the constitutional convention will take place following the presidential election, which will be in the not too distant future. The Government is also committed to holding two referenda, one in respect of the abolition of the Seanad, which is an issue for another date and the other on children's rights. Tá i bhfad níos mó le rá agam, ach níl an t-am agam. Tabharfaidh mé seans labhartha do dhuine éigin eile.