Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I am normally reluctant to propose or second an amendment that would delay the work of the House and a Minister due to come here to speak to us, but I listened carefully to what Senator Crown had to say and he made a strong case. It is with pleasure, therefore, that I support his proposed amendment to the Order of Business to request the Taoiseach to come to the House today to debate the issue of democracy. We are not only talking about the Seanad but, to a large extent, also about a proposal made by the Taoiseach a number of months ago that has not been discussed in this House. It is time we discussed it. I think back to the 1790s when the Members of Grattan's Parliament decided to abolish themselves. If the Seanad is abolished in the future, the legislation to provide for this will have to pass through this House. A majority of Members in the House would have to call for the holding of a referendum because that is the legislation that would be required. Therefore, we would be like the Members of Grattan's Parliament who said they were committing suicide in deciding to absolve themselves and go to Westminster instead. I think they received bribes to do so.