Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will move on. I am close to finishing. As Senator Bacik is aware, I have respect for her and for the House, but it is important for me to put some of my concluding remarks on the record in this debate.

Page 93, paragraph 5 reads:

Comparative analysis has also drawn our attention to the unique right of the head of government to appoint members of the second chamber. In other countries, while the prime minister may have a role - indeed, possibly a determining voice - in such nominations, the formal appointments are made by the head of state. We therefore suggest that consideration be given to transferring the right of appointment from the Taoiseach to the President, possibly with the requirement that the President act on the advice of the Taoiseach (though alternative arrangements for nominations could also be made).

I imagine Senator Bacik and others would not disagree with the notion of President Michael D. Higgins having a say in the nominations to this wonderful Upper House.

Some of the university Senators might not like paragraph 6, which reads:

Existing provisions for university representation are both cumbersome and of questionable appropriateness. Most of those voting no longer have any connection, other than possibly one of sentiment, with the universities whose representatives they are choosing. If university representation is to continue, therefore, methods should be devised to ensure that university senators represent their universities, rather than giving a special additional franchise to a large and disparate body of graduates most of whom have long departed from their colleges, and perhaps even from the country.

I suppose if we are to be honest, that is a true statement.