Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will be listening with great interest. If that rationale does not stand up, we will be in difficulty because the Dáil will not reconvene. Surely, nobody is suggesting that if we succeed in passing this motion - it is quite clear the system would not disintegrate or fragment as a result of our doing what is proposed therein - the Dáil will not reconvene. I would be very surprised if public opinion would not come in behind us. Senator Crown referred to a specific constituency in Cork in which the Government has a majority. A recent poll carried out there indicated two-thirds of the people believed the Seanad should be reconvened. It is the only poll we have at our disposal. Perhaps another should be taken nationally. I believe that if we did seek public opinion on this matter, which is so important to families as they suffer as much as patients and to other people who have no experience of it but know that at some time in the future they may, the majority of people would expect legislators to return from their holidays and do what they were elected to do. There is nothing sacrosanct about us having to go into recess for two months. The Seanad should reconvene whenever required. This is precisely what is happening today. The procedure in terms of the process in which we are now engaging was properly adhered to.

I listened to the radio and television interviews with Senator Mark Daly. He was very logical. It was clear he knew precisely why he wanted the Seanad to reconvene. He was very courageous and stood by his view despite being somewhat ridiculed. He has won over many people at this point. Let us forget about whether or not this is good or bad for the Seanad: that is not what this is about. This is about people expecting us to give them a voice, particularly the Irish Kidney Association, which I compliment on briefing us every year on its work. It is not as if it exists in some little crystal palace away from the public. It knows the public mood. Senator Mark Daly was nominated by the Irish Kidney Association and has picked up the cudgel in this particular case and done what was right. Let us not be seeking scapegoats or trying to distract from the main debate. The main consideration is people's lives. It is as simple as that. It is clear from the debate that we are not against the main provisions of the statutory instrument. Surely, from an Irish perspective we should be given the opportunity to fine tune it and to debate the national authority and the lack of co-ordinators in the hospitals in this regard, which is a major problem. That is what the debate is about.

One can anticipate the result of the vote. That is part of the system of which we are victims. I believe if the Whip system was removed today Senators would do the right thing-----