Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Paragraph 9 states:

The third major issue to be confronted is that of giving the Seanad new powers that would indeed overlap with those of the Dáil - that is, giving it enhanced power over the legislative process. This is intimately tied to the whole question of the legitimacy of the second chamber, and the issue of direct election. It seems to us that a radical shift to direct election is not merited unless the Seanad is also given enhanced powers in the legislative process. Once more, we identify a fundamental issue that must be debated politically - the question whether it is desirable, whatever the situation in theory, to have a working system of checks and balances in the Irish legislative system, given the potential for conflict between the two houses of the legislature that such a system must inevitably imply.

Many people have forgotten that this progress report contained much good material. If the Taoiseach had really reflected on what some Fine Gael icons, including Michael Collins, Garret FitzGerald and John Bruton, and others such as T.K. Whitaker have said, and if he really reflected on the work that was done in the build-up for the past 20 or 30 years, some of it neglected by the previous two or three Governments, he would not have embarked on this road to hell. It is the road to damnation and destroying an arm of the Oireachtas. It is like an amputation - it may never be stitched on again. Many Senators on the other side of the House are dreading the notion of the Seanad being abolished. Whether it is today or next week they have a chance when they walk through the lobbies to show the guts and gumption like the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, regardless of whether one believes her, to stand up for what they believe in their hearts to be right. Let five or six Senators on the other side do it and we will save this House.