Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend the Senators who brought forward this thoughtful legislation. I commend all the work involved, not only that of Seanadóirí but also that of others, including former Tánaiste Michael McDowell. Many have put much thought into the legislation. What they have done is demonstrate that, without changing the Constitution, one could achieve two things: democratise elections to the Seanad and identify a very real and clear role for the Seanad. That is the important service they have done us. Of course, we could look to further reforms.

We must acknowledge the authoritarianism and shallowness that lay behind the proposal to put this matter to a referendum. As Cathal Mac Coille pointed out on Raidió na Gaeltachta within the past hour during a programme in which I took part, the Taoiseach announced at a summer school some months before the abolition decision all the ways in which the Seanad could be given a real role. Within a few months, however, there was a silly electioneering proposal to abolish the Seanad by referendum. If the Government was sincere about a thinking approach, it would publish legislation on how the House could possibly be reformed. It is questionable how reliable the Government is on pre-election promises and pre-referendum promises but it would at least give people the opportunity to consider an alternative or, indeed, have a preferendum, not necessarily with a view to changing the Constitution but to gauging opinion.

The Seanad has debated issues such as civil partnership. This did not happen in the Dáil. It was a cross-party debate. We will have another such debate on the abortion legislation, despite claims and reports that the Government is trying to have a complete-consensus approach in the Dáil. I can promise the Minister that it will not happen in this House.