Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will not delay the House. I have elaborated on the situation. I assure the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, that it is a great report and it should have been acted upon. I fully accept there was a lack of action. If action had been taken there would be a reformed Seanad in place. We are all to blame in that regard.

I hope someone will read the submissions made by An Taoiseach at the time, Mr. Bertie Ahern; Deputy Tommy Broughan; former Deputy and Taoiseach, Mr. John Bruton; former Deputy and Taoiseach and at the time Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Brian Cowen; Deputy – at the time Senator – Timmy Dooley; former Senator, Mr. John Hanafin; former Senator, Dr. Maurice Hayes; former Senator, Dr. Mary Henry; Councillor John Hussey from Fermoy Town Council; the then Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, Mr. Rory Kiely; Senator Terry Leyden; Mr. Michael McDowell, then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Deputy – then Senator - Joe McHugh; Senator Marc MacSharry; Senator Paschal Mooney; former Senator, Mr. Pat Moylan; Senator David Norris; former Deputy, Minister and Ceann Comhairle and at the time Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Mr. John O'Donoghue; former Deputy, Mr. Jim O’Keeffe; former Senator and Deputy, Ms Fiona O’Malley, former Senator, Ms Ann Ormonde, former Senator and Deputy, Mr. Liam Fitzgerald; Senator Feargal Quinn; former Senator – now Deputy - Shane Ross; former MEP, Ms Rosemary, Dana, Scallon; Deputy – then Senator - Liam Twomey; and Senator Mary White. All of those people made contributions and it could be worthwhile for Senators to read them during the course of the debate in the coming weeks.