Ms Máire Geoghegan-Quinn:

I thank the Cathaoirleach. That is very good of him. First, when one has to make a really important decision in life it is always important to have a second opinion. That is one of the truths by which I live. The decade of remembrance we are going through, the big moments in the State, is a time when we need to look very carefully at democratic accountability. Checks and balances are needed. We have seen this in respect of the economic crisis. It is also a time of checks and balances in the whole political system and political landscape. People will have to decide whether they want a diminishing democracy or a democracy that is enhanced. I hope we can have a debate in the country that is measured and considered, where people can talk in a very rational and calm way about the future.

If I may, I will talk about my own personal experience. For 22 years, as I noted, I often came into this Chamber in my capacity as a Minister of State or as a Minister. I remember the first time I came here, with a consumer information Bill, as long ago as 1977 or 1978. I learned more during the discussion in this Chamber about the law and how it works than I could ever have learned in the Dáil. The debate in the Dáil was fast and furious and there were so many items on the agenda. When I came into the Seanad there was a possibility to tease out the legislation. There were giants here on the occasion of that debate, such as Ken Whitaker and Alexis Fitzgerald senior, who knew the law and could talk about the practical implications of what we were suggesting. I did something I believe few of my predecessors had done - I accepted amendments. I may not have been very popular with my colleagues in the Dáil at the time but I believe it was a good thing to do.

I valued very much the experience and the support I received here. One may look at the people who have been in the Seanad - I will not mention everybody - and at the contribution and the voice the Seanad has given, for example, to an area in I was centrally involved for two years, Northern Ireland. There were people such as Gordon Wilson, Maurice Hayes, Seamus Mallon, Bríd Rodgers. There was a depth of understanding they were able to bring to this Chamber in regard to the difficulties in Northern Ireland that could not have been brought to the other Chamber. That is something we must also think about in this debate.

There is, of course, my great friend, Senator David Norris. I am very disappointed he is not present today. We had many a tussle in this Chamber and many great robust debates. Very many people kindly mentioned what happened in 1993 and 1994, concerning a certain piece of legislation. Again, that was a debate that could take place in a real calm atmosphere where nobody was trying to score political points.

If Senators want a direct answer, therefore, yes, I believe the Seanad should remain and I will have great pleasure in coming home, whenever the referendum takes place, to vote "No" to the abolition of the Seanad.