Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach believes she is surplus to requirements, a waster, not fit for purpose and irrelevant. That is what the Taoiseach and the Government think of each and every one of us in the House. This fact must be noted. I wish the Senator well, but that is what the Taoiseach who appointed her to the Seanad thinks of her.

It is regrettable that, in attempting to do away with the House, the Government is disenfranchising the island's only 32 county electorate.

That includes university graduates from Trinity College Dublin and the National University of Ireland. That franchise should be expanded to all graduates, and the 1979 referendum indicated that should happen. Nothing was ever done about that, and my party was in government for the bulk of that time. It is disgraceful that the matter was not dealt with.

Many good proposals have been put before the House by colleagues in dealing with Seanad reform, both in this Seanad and in the first Seanad in which I was privileged to serve. There was a report from Mary O'Rourke, along with the Minister of State and other colleagues. Nothing was done about that either.