Feargal Quinn (Independent)

The reason I bring it up is that it was a call inquiring about the health of my mother-in-law. Her 102nd birthday was due to fall on 10 November and the President wanted to know to which address she should send the letter of recognition. Unfortunately, my mother-in-law died a few months ago and I was able to tell them that. This is a reminder of what we are able to do if we commit ourselves. President Mary McAleese has not just given a very generous gift on each 100 year birthday but has put in motion the marking and recognition of each subsequent birthday, a token that my mother-in-law got last year. Mrs Grace Prendergast was looking forward to her 102nd birthday, but unfortunately it was not to be.

Some months ago there was talk of whether we need a President at all. It is a reminder of what we can do, if we can manage to recognise the benefits of the institutions we have and the people we elect who are able to make of those institutions something that can be of significant benefit to the community as President McAleese and other Presidents have done. It reminds me of this House because at the same time we were talking about the need for the office of the Presidency, the question cropped up as to whether we need a Seanad. I think it is fair to say that the Presidency has earned the respect of this country. If we are to maintain this House, and I really believe in this House, it is up to us to do something about it. It will not just happen. The onus of responsibility is on us to do something. I am not sure but I understood that there was a process in being to see how we could manage the affairs of this House. I am not just talking about reform of the Seanad because we have had plenty of that before but I am posing the question of what we in this House will do. The Leader has done a very good job since he came in here. I believe the value of the Seanad is being recognised. We have not gone nearly far enough and can do much more. If we are still around as a forum in years to come, it is in our own hands.