Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Like the Leader and Senator Darragh O'Brien, I very much welcome the result of Saturday's referendum on the abolition of the Seanad. It shows that the people engaged very closely with the proposal put to them. They scrutinised the issues and were very keen, particularly in the immediate lead-up to the referendum, to inform themselves. Their decision speaks for itself. I also very much welcome the resounding majority in support of the proposal to establish a new court of appeal.

I commend all of those who were active in the campaign leading up the Seanad referendum. The result seems to have confounded many commentators. The Leader has referred to the reason we have a two-day sitting week on this occasion. It appears that some people might have written off the Seanad in advance in terms of their agreement or otherwise to come into the House. We will see a return to normal business in future weeks, as the Leader indicated.

The referendum result gives us a clear imperative for reform - not just Seanad reform but also political reform. I very much welcome the Leader's announcement that we will have statements on political reform for two hours this evening. We should work together in a collegiate fashion in this House in considering reform measures. There are two key ways to do this. The first is to refer potential constitutional changes to the Constitutional Convention which is the forum in which constitutional changes and political reforms broadly are being debated. Second, this and the other House can progress legislative reforms in parallel. We should be working in a collegiate manner to take what is best from the two reform proposals already passed on Second Stage and the cross-party report on Seanad reform adopted two Seanaid ago which included several very sensible suggestions, some of which have been incorporated into the Bills by Senators Katherine Zappone and John Crown. We must examine what is best in these legislative proposals for reform and seek to progress them in a timely way. That is the clear imperative arising from the very welcome outcome of the referendum.

I welcome the clear indications in recent days that next week's budget adjustment will be less than €3.1 billion. It means that there will be some relief for hard-working families and citizens in that the adjustment will be less than was previously suggested.

I also welcome the Government's announcement on Priory Hall. Everybody is delighted to see a settlement in sight for the residents of that development.