Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is the Report on Seanad Reform by the Sub-Committee on Seanad Reform of Seanad Éireann's Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

It is important that this document's foreword should be on the record of the House because it will show exactly what could have happened. It states:

In broad terms, our recommendations involve new ways to choose Senators that involve the public much more closely, combined with significant changes to the Seanad's functions. We believe that these changes will give a much greater public legitimacy to the Seanad while ensuring that its composition differs from that of the Dáil. In addition, we feel that it will enhance the prospects of people with particular valued expertise being able to make a contribution to the work of Seanad Éireann. The significant changes to the functions of Seanad Éireann that we have recommended involve the definition of a new role for the House in the areas of legislative consultation, EU affairs, social partnership, North/South Implementation Bodies, and the scrutiny of public appointments. In making these recommendations, we have sought to define a new division of labour between the two Houses of the Oireachtas and to identify important jobs that currently fall between the cracks in our political parliamentary system. We acknowledge that this report will have considerable political implications. Difficult decisions will have to be taken involving sensitive political matters. But if progress is to be made, we believe that there is an urgent need to accept the political reality that Seanad Éireann really must be reformed if it is to make a viable and distinctive contribution to the economic, social and political affairs of our country. We feel strongly that the recommendations in this report provide the framework for doing this in a reasonable and balanced way. They offer a new start, and a new sense of purpose to Seanad Éireann. We are confident that, when implemented, they will empower the Seanad to make a major contribution to meeting the challenges facing twenty-first century Ireland.

It is signed by Senator Mary O'Rourke, Chairperson and Leader of the Seanad; Senator Brian Hayes, Leader of the Fine Gael group; Senator John Dardis, Deputy Leader of the Seanad and a member of the Progressive Democrats; and Senator Joe O'Toole, co-ordinator of the Independent Group.

That is an extremely good document which should be read and could provide a framework for reform. If this referendum is defeated, the Government should consider putting this document in the form of legislation. This excellent document should have been implemented but unfortunately at the time - that is, from 2004 to 2007, close enough to the general election - we did not get results from the Minister of the day. It then went to the next stage when Mary O'Rourke was elected to the Dáil and so was Deputy Brian Hayes. Joe O'Toole and John Dardis were both returned to the Seanad but were not in a position to push this forward.

The period from 2007 to 2011 saw the economic collapse. When the bailiffs were coming it was not the time to negotiate a new House in this case.