Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to make a few points on the amendment. I have put on record on previous occasions that I am disappointed that the potential abolition of the Seanad was not put before the Constitutional Convention. I suppose talk about that is futile considering how soon the referendum is likely to be.

I want to pick up on a point made by Senator Mac Conghail in regard to the drama and melodrama that has gone on here. It struck me on the various occasions on which I listened to soundbites from the Seanad that we really are, on occasion, putting a nail in our own coffin in the sense that we are giving fodder to the media, which is not well disposed to the Seanad, to get rid of us. I agree with Senator Mac Conghail that this debate now needs to go outside the House because on so many occasions we let ourselves down with the shouting and the type of language that is used. Senator MacSharry referred to how other people would call us "muppets". Even using the word "muppet" towards ourselves and repeating that is very negative towards us. We need to be very careful of what can be picked up from this House and put out into the wider media.

The more of those from civil society who come out in favour of the Seanad and the work we do in here, and the potential it actually has, the better. I understand Senator Norris was excellent on the radio this morning. However, the more of those from civil society and the fewer Senators who are on the radio or any other media on this issue, the better for any potential reform.

Senator Mac Conghail also said that many of us would not relish the thought of an election. I can tell him there are many of us who would. Even if we have come through the process we have, we would be quite willing to face the people.

The point was made that there might be 30 civil servants in the ante room feeling disgruntled at the fact they are here at all. We should look to a situation in which we challenge the civil servants and Ministers, as we have done on many occasions. I would love to be in a Seanad that was not just seen as a hoop that had to be gone through to get the legislation or the budget through, and where it was genuinely seen as a challenge. While I am not sure the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, would be kind enough to say it, on many occasions Ministers and civil servants are genuinely challenged in this House.