John Whelan (Labour)

I support Senator Gilroy's call for a debate on political reform. The debate should not be solely concerned with the future of the Seanad but should be a broad ranging discussion. I am not sure of precedent but would the Taoiseach take the opportunity to air his views on the raft of areas that could be improved and developed, as a commitment was included in the programme for Government to hold a referendum on the future of the Seanad?

Due to the Supreme Court ruling on the McKenna judgment, once a referendum is called our hands are tied. I count this as a form of censorship. If a referendum is called in the morning on the future of the Seanad, we would be proscribed from advocating a "Yes" vote or a "No" vote, which I think is absurd. We are expected to argue the debate with one hand tied behind our back. The debate on political reform should be broadened. The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, and the Garda Representative Association at their recent Easter conferences called for the establishment of an independent policing authority. It was dismissed out of hand by the Department of Justice and Equality, as if it did not count. In the context of the matters raised by Senators Darragh O'Brien and Martin Conway on policing in both urban and rural areas, it would be helpful if we had an independent policing authority to look at these matters in a detached and apolitical fashion.

Everyone is bewildered by the fact that 19 Deputies draw down €50,000 each as an allowance for so called party leaders. That is absurd in the extreme.