Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I agree with what Senator Barrett said in his words of warning about the property market. This country was brought to its economic knees by the greed basically generated by the property zone of speculators and developers. It is disquieting, therefore, when there are headlines welcoming the fact property prices are on the march again. It should be our aspiration that every citizen would be in a financial position to obtain housing at a reasonable price. Having seen the country ruined by property prices, our aspiration should be that property prices remain modest and affordable and that so-called expectations of property price increases do not merit words of welcome from anybody.

I support the request from Senator Mac Conghail that we have a debate on the constitutional convention. I reiterate an argument I presented in the House some time ago. In regard to the constitutional convention and so-called "expert groups" on any area of public concern, I do not want these groups or persons to become trojan horses. There are 49 elected and 11 nominated Members in this House and 166 elected Members in the other House and between us, we have the views and expertise to bring forward ideas on changes to legislation which are required. I would not like anybody, whether an expert group or a constitutional convention, to be somehow presented as an organisation which knows more than the elected Members. A range of views is fine but the best and the biggest constitutional convention or expert group should be the 200 plus Members of the Oireachtas. Let us have constitutional conventions and expert groups, but they are not the bearers of full truth and knowledge. Leadership on constitutional change or otherwise must come from this House, not from external unelected persons.