Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept the Cathaoirleach’s reply. We are going down a slippery road. At this late stage, will Government Members, including the Independent ones, consider if they are doing the right thing by allowing a flawed referendum to proceed? If there were a referendum held on any institution of the State, including the Dáil, without a proper choice made available, the people would probably vote to get rid of the Dáil as well. We have to be honest with the people. We cannot send a referendum to the people under a charade of lies. Misinformation is being given about the cost savings.

Will Government Members abstain from voting or vote against this Bill? This is an issue of fundamental importance to future generations. It will define how democracy is carried on and how people are represented long into the future. It will tear up our Constitution. As Michael McDowell, a man whom I respect, has written extensively, it would be easier to rewrite Bunreacht na Éireann than to let this referendum proceed.

I appeal to those Members on the opposite side to consider their options when this vote comes up today, because this is not the right thing to do. One can argue that we should let the people have their say, but what are we actually saying? We are giving people a smokescreen of a political gimmick of a choice when they should be afforded a real choice and when we should have a real debate on whether this Seanad should be retained or reformed. That is what the debate should be about, but it will only be about whether the Seanad stays as it is or is extinguished. If we allow the referendum to go ahead on that basis, we will not have the debate this House deserves. No Senator who votes for this piece of legislation can appear on any media outlet and say credibly that he or she supports reform, because he or she is not giving the people the opportunity to vote for reform.

It is never wrong to change one's mind and it is never too late to do the right thing. Members should either abstain from the vote, make themselves scarce or vote against this piece of legislation, because the people deserve an option. Members should reflect on the €15 million that the Minister and his Government are spending this year on the European space programme. How is that benefiting any of us or any citizen of the country? This is a sum of €15 million. It is outrageous and disgraceful and does not help this country to get out of austerity. At least we can play a role in parliamentary democracy. Whether we are here or not does not matter. It is about who will be here in the future and the future of the House, our democracy and our Constitution as we know it. I see the Minister of State has a copy of the Constitution sitting on his desk.