Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Could the Leader tell us what progress has been made in respect of the two Seanad Bills we debated here last month? The Seanad Bill 2013 passed Second Stage last month and concerned reform of the Seanad. Yet we will introduce a Bill tomorrow to abolish the Seanad. Should we not be taking the Bill to reform the Seanad ahead of the one that aims to abolish it? Could the Leader tell me where we stand on that?

I support Senator Crown and others who have spoken about the need for a timeline with regard to the terms of reference for the banking inquiry that we assume will take place. Senator Mary Ann O'Brien touched on the topic that has frustrated me over the years, namely, the length of time it takes to get something done in this country. It has been almost five years since that night in September 2008. It takes so long to get things done. I look at the commercial world where things happen much more quickly. I look at the US where things happen much more quickly. Can we not find some way to at least move things along much more rapidly than we do at the moment? I cannot believe it takes so long to do these things and I believe that, on this basis, Senator Crown's call for the Minister to come to the House to explain-----