Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Tá áthas orm go bhfuil an díospóireacht seo ag tarlú. Is trua nach raibh sí ann sula raibh an fógra i rith an olltoghcháin. Ar shlí, tá seans againn fós aitheantas a thabhairt do thábhacht Sheanad Éireann agus tá súil agam go gcabhróidh an Bille os ár gcomhair díospóireacht cheart a thosnú i measc an phobail.

It was a sad commentary on us as democrats that Seanad Éireann was dropped into the middle of a general election as a sacrificial offering but it is becoming quite clear that people are stopping to think about precisely what happened and the intention behind it. The mere fact this Bill is getting a Second Reading is an indication of a reality which is setting in. The difficulty will be getting the message to the public because until now, the debate has had a very low profile and that was deliberate.

There are times when I think the Seanad is being wound down in a particular way, which is not very nice, and in some way to strengthen the argument against having the Seanad. The importance of the Bill is the debate around it as we will not have the opportunity this evening to tease its detail in any great detail. However, what is important about the Bill is that if the Government intends to go ahead with a referendum in October, it will provide a counter debate and a counter measure, but there is a difficulty here for the Government. If it goes for the abolition of the Seanad and not for reform and assuming the referendum does not succeed, carrying out certain reform in the future will require another referendum but it will have lost the opportunity to do that here.

They say a week is a long time in politicals but the period of time between now and October is long. We are also entering into the summer of discontent and that is a time when we can succeed in engaging with the public. I hope the media enters into partnership with us in this debate, not for the good of Senators and Seanad Éireann but for the good of democracy. After all, the media enjoy a particular role in that regard.

I compliment those who brought forward the Bill. I have no doubt it will not go the whole hog but it will be out there as a counter measure and for that reason, we are doing a good day's work this evening.