Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is in section 1. It is very appropriate that the Minister of State is here because he co-signed a document which was chaired by former Senator Mary O'Rourke in 2004 and written by the Minister of State and formers Senators John Dardis and Joe O'Toole. I think former Senator Brendan Ryan opted out. It stated that:

When the 22nd Seanad convened in September 2002, there was a widespread consensus among Senators that the issue of Seanad reform needed to be addressed. In particular, there was a strong view that the Seanad should lead the reform process by facing squarely the major issues and dealing with them objectively and comprehensively.

In its first week of sittings, the new Seanad held a debate on the reform of its composition and functions. At the conclusion of this, it passed a resolution instructing the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to establish a Sub-Committee on Seanad Reform to bring forward proposals on reform of the House.

This report contains those proposals and it is our privilege to present them to the Committee on Procedures and Privileges. Our report sets out our analysis and findings following-----