Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When the British Government decided to close down the Irish Parliament in College Green, its first move was to try to ignore it, make it irrelevant and reduce its business. In many ways, what is happening in the Seanad is reminiscent of that. The British Government did not succeed initially because of politicians of the stature of Grattan and Flood who resisted and made it impossible to make the Parliament irrelevant. I call for Grattans and Floods to emerge on the Government side, which is where the decision must be made to fight for the integrity of the Chamber for as long as it remains. If we are to be abolished, let us be busy until the last day we sit and let us be relevant.

There has been much commentary on how often the Seanad Chamber has been used by other groups. While much of that is commendable, this Chamber should be used first and foremost for the business of the Seanad.

On the forthcoming local elections, Members will be aware that the local and European elections are only 12 months away. However, we do not yet have the outline of the configuration of the constituencies, which is most unfair to aspiring and sitting councillors. We have all fought elections and we know that one needs a fair run-in before being confident of getting votes. As we are now into the month of May, a decision must be imminent. However, as in the case of all decisions made by the current Cabinet, we hear everything by way of leak. It appears every decision made by the Cabinet has to be leaked at least a month before it is announced.