Feargal Quinn (Independent)

Yes but I am talking about the day on which he was inaugurated.

We have a healthy democracy and it has been helped by the 1937 Constitution. The fact that it has lasted so long is a reminder of what a great deal it contains. The fact that there were seven candidates in the last presidential election shows what a demand there is for the office and how it is regarded. That does not stop us from re-examining it and asking whether changes should be made. We should consider the flaws, also, and we all remember the difficulty that arose last year when those candidates were trying to get elected. It seems to me, as someone from the Independent benches, that the process is biased against Independent presidential candidates and is clearly in favour of party candidates. Senator Norris has explained that.

It is an interesting proposal to bring to the issue because it is usually only heard around the time of a presidential election. Politicians usually have to worry about other matters, such as the economy or the financial crisis. I know this matter is of great importance to Senator Norris who encountered considerable difficulty in securing a nomination last year. It is obvious that politicians are already tainted by influences, including personal and party ones, which can make nomination for the Presidency very difficult.

I certainly hope the Seanad will not be abolished. According to what the Taoiseach said here today, it will be up to us to convince the population that they should not accept its abolition. We must earn our keep, however, and must prove that we are worthwhile. It seems that if the Seanad is abolished, however, then the requirement rules will be much changed and it would appear to be much more difficult to secure a presidential nomination. Would that need to be changed to, say, a percentage of Oireachtas Members? Senator Norris has pointed out the difficulties therein.

Can Senators remember anyone in the past who should have been on the ballot paper but did not, or could not, get a nomination? We spoke about the Minister of State's brother, Mr. Neill O'Dowd, for example.