Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The 11 Taoiseach's nominees are democratic Members of the House under the Constitution. I take grave exception to any suggestion otherwise, with a portrayal that I sneaked in the gate and grabbed one of the seats in this House. I was nominated to this House and elected to it, and I am very proud of the fact. That story should be struck on the head. We should be elected in a different way, but currently, that is the way it is. Should the public have a say in the election of Members to this House? Yes, they should, although perhaps not for every Member. The public should certainly have a say in the election of the majority of Members to this House. On Second Stage of this Bill it was argued that contributions were made through the decades by excellent people but most of those would not have had a chance of being elected to the Dáil. The contributions made, particularly by Independent Members and university Senators, have been exceptional, and it is a disgrace that the Government and the Taoiseach in particular is proposing to do away with us.

I had many disagreements with the former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell, but I have great respect for him. He started out thinking we should get rid of the Seanad but because of the time he spent as Minister before the House and since, he has changed his mind. He wrote an article to which some of my colleagues have alluded, stating many sensible things. It is entitled "Scrapping the Seanad is about a bid for total power, not saving money", and that sums up exactly what this piece of legislation is all about. He argues that there are 37 politically appointed Government advisers, costing €3.4 million per year; so much for change and a new form of Government. Those advisers cost much more than the Members of this House cost on an annual basis.