Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House and in the Visitors Gallery former Senator Mary Henry. I am delighted to see her here. As others have done, I commend Senators Katherine Zappone and Senator Feargal Quinn, in particular, and their colleagues on the immense amount of work they have put into drafting this detailed Bill on Seanad reform. I welcome the fact that we are debating it this evening. I am conscious that we have debated recently Senator John Crown's Bill also on Seanad reform. The Leader has proposed that debate be concluded at the conclusion of this debate. This is a difficult area in which to draft a Bill to achieve meaningful reform and yet stay within the terms of the Constitution. They have done a particularly good job and both have spoken powerfully and eloquently in favour of the Bill. It is no secret that my personal view is that it would be preferable to reform the Seanad rather than abolish it. I have spoken on the issue many times in the House and in other fora.

The Bill is being introduced, as the Leader has said, at a time when the Government is committed to putting the continued existence of the Seanad to the people in a referendum to be held later in the year. The Minister has informed the House that the legislation will come before the Government next week. That commitment is contained in the programme for Government. Those of us on the Government side knew that when we signed up to that programme and are committed to supporting the referendum Bill and allowing this question to go to the people.