Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the publication of the Seanad Bill 2013 and compliment its proposers, as I complimented Senator Crown on the introduction of his Seanad Electoral Reform Bill last March. I welcome the opportunity to discuss these proposals but, as the Minister stated, the Seanad referendum Bill will be before us in a matter of weeks and it will be the people who will decide whether this House continues or not.

The vast majority of the content of previous reports on Seanad reform dealt with how the Seanad should be elected. There is no doubt in my mind that the entire electorate should have a say in the election of Seanad Éireann. This Bill has some suggestions on how that can be accomplished - Senator Crown's Bill had different proposals - but should the people decide to retain the Seanad, then the people must certainly also have a say in the election of the next Seanad.

In the referendum people will be asked to vote for abolition, or against it. The Bill before us provides a suite of proposals which can be considered by the electorate before they cast their vote in a referendum. It confers a range of additional powers, including the examination of public appointments as well as the holding of inquiries. It suggests that Seanad Éireann should have a greater role in the scrutiny of draft legislation emanating from the institutions of the European Union. I would certainly support such a move and the House will be aware that I advocated such a role but secretarial resources were denied to us at that time. I have asked a sub-committee of the House to come together to draw up proposals for us to deal with the relevant items from the European Parliament's annual work programme, which can be staffed from within our own individual resources. I certainly fully agree that Seanad Éireann should have an enhanced role in considering draft legislation directly from EU institutions.

When speaking of resources, I note this Bill suggests setting up a number of Seanad committees. We should be very careful about creating anything that would involve greater cost to the taxpayer. I have my doubts too about the process of registering to vote at Seanad elections, opting for panels etc. I believe this will involve greater costs also. It seems a little cumbersome but the principle of the public electing the majority of Senators is one that I fully support.

I view this Bill and Senator Crown's Bill as discussion documents that will engage and inform the public, and show them that proposals are in place that can be tweaked, deleted or otherwise, but at the end of the day the Seanad will be reformed, especially in the manner it is elected and nature of the business with which we deal.

Checks and balances and the opportunity to have a second opinion have always been valued by the Irish electorate. I believe that Seanad Éireann, when scrutinising legislation, provides exactly what people are looking for in the careful and considered way we deal with legislation. Many Ministers, current and past, are on record stating that they believe that legislation is greatly improved following the Seanad Stages and that is due to the quality of debate that takes place in this House.