Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Crown for proposing the Bill and Senator Norris for seconding it. I acknowledge the work of Senator Crown in bringing the Bill before the House. It is exciting that a Senator would take the time out to do so. I congratulate the people who worked with him on bringing the Bill before the House. We have had some excellent Bills before the House in the history of the Seanad but, unfortunately, I am unable to support Senator Crown this evening.

Let us consider the definition of a senate. I mean no disrespect to any Member. A senate is an assembly or council of citizens having the highest deliberative functions in government, especially a legislative assembly of a state or nation. Many countries have an assembly called a senate composed of senators who may be elected, appointed or have inherited a title or gained membership by other methods, depending on the country. Modern senates typically serve as a chamber of sober second thought and consider legislation passed by a lower house. The word senate is derived from the Latin word senatus which comes from senex, which means an old man. I mean no disrespect to the people of this House. The important phrase is "sober second thought". We have had some excellent debate in the House on Bills we have passed. We have spent a good deal more time legislating than the Lower House and we have put through some excellent amendments for the Minister of State, who is listening. This Bill is here. We will have a referendum to abolish the Seanad. If there was a referendum to get rid of any part of the body politic, whether the local councils or the Dáil, it would be gone because politics does not have a good name in the country. That is the fault of politicians over the years and because of the way politics was used.