Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

What I have to say on this legislation might as well be said on section 1 as any other section. I can assure the Cathaoirleach that I will not repeat on other sections what I propose to say now.

The proposed abolition of the Seanad will cause structural damage to the democracy of this country. Democracy is like a three legged stool in that once one breaks off one of its legs it becomes unstable. This is what will occur if the people opt to abolish the Seanad. It is nothing short of reckless that the Taoiseach and the Government propose to ask the people by way of referendum to abolish the Seanad and not to offer the alternative of reform of the Seanad. It is audacious and ludicrous that this issue was not even considered by the Constitutional Convention. It is ludicrous that the convention will consider issues such as a reduction from 35 to 21 in the age at which a person may become President and a reduction to 16 years in the age at which people can vote, which I think is madness. These issues were given indepth consideration by the All-Party Committee on the Constitution, of which I was previously a chairman. Much of the work undertaken by that committee is being replicated by the Constitutional Convention. The All-Party Committee on the Constitution was the brainchild of former Taoiseach, John Bruton. Its first chairman was former Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, who was a colleague of mine from south-west Cork. However, he was chairman for only a short while because of general election in 1997. The committee was also chaired by the late and great Brian Lenihan.

During its second tranche, the All-Party Committee on the Constitution, which was established by a former Fine Gael Taoiseach and Government, carried out a progress report on the viability of the Seanad. The chairman of the committee at that time was, as I said earlier, former Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, an eminent member of the Fine Gael Party and perhaps one of the longest serving Members in the Dáil. It was unfortunate he did not progress further up the ranks of Fine Gael. While I do not propose to read the full report, I would like to put a few extracts from it on the record. Before I do so, it is worth noting some of the members of the committee included former Deputy Austin Curry, who was a presidential candidate, former Deputy Síle de Valera, a subsequent Minister of State, current Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, former Senator Ann Gallagher, the late Brian Lenihan, the current Minister of State for Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, former Deputy Derek McDowell, former Deputy Michael McDowell, Deputy Willie O'Dea, former Deputy Jim O'Keeffe and former Senator Michael Kennedy. The committee undertook a great deal of research and consulted with a wide range of people and reports. I will not bore the House with all of the submissions made. However, it is important to reflect on a few of them. As I said earlier, I propose to say what I have to say now and to not repeat it later on other sections. I will probably not even contribute again.

One of the most significant submissions was from one of the greatest public servants of this country, T.K. Whitaker. Other submissions were received from John Robb, John O'Connell, the late Conor Cruise O'Brien, Senator Norris, whom I think it still around-----