Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are having this debate after a referendum in which the people spoke and decided to retain a bicameral system. They voted to retain the Chamber on the basis of keeping the system but also a wish to reform not only this Chamber but the body politic. It was good to see quite a few members of the press here today, as it is not always the case, and the people still do not realise the amount of work done by Senators in amending and enhancing legislation. That is our job. The blocking of legislation, which was mentioned on several occasions throughout the campaign, is not the game we are in, and we have improved legislation over 500 times this year alone.

I understand the impetus of colleagues in the House to reform the Seanad but before we speak about what we intend doing, we should contemplate the changes made in the Seanad over the past two years. We have had a public consultation committee, which brought people in from outside to give ideas on policy areas. We have addressed those public consultation reports with Ministers in the House, and they have taken on board quite a number of the proposals made by this House. That is a significant contribution of the House that has gone largely unnoticed. We have also dealt with a number of EU directives, providing a forum for MEPs to come to the House and explain to us and the Irish people their work in the EU. They were grateful for the opportunity to come to us and let us know what they are doing on various committees; that work is necessary and should be welcomed.

We have done quite an amount of reforming in the way we do business in that respect. Last year we approved a motion relating to committee meetings taking place when the Order of Business was taking place, and it was decided that Members would not attend those committees in order to facilitate quorums. I remind Members that Senators decided to facilitate commencement of committees in the past, so we had ourselves to blame in that regard. My preference is to have a specific week for the holding of committees and meetings should not be held when the plenary sessions are taking place. We have heard excuses that there may not be enough rooms, etc., but they do not wash. It could be done and it should be tried, as it would amount to true reform, concentrating the minds of people on the work of committees. Many committees do excellent work, which certainly goes unnoticed as well. The Government should take these steps on board as they would be a meaningful reform.

In speaking of reform, right now everything is focused on how the Seanad is to be reformed. The focus should be switched to the other House, which can make decisions on finance and other very important matters. That House needs as much if not more reform than this body, and I hope the Government will act on that. I am confident that it will do so.

We have a number of reports, especially the most recent report by Mary O'Rourke, in which there are a number of laudable recommendations that should be acted on. Likewise, Senators Crown and Zappone and Quinn have introduced reform Bills in recent months. While I do not agree with some of the provisions, I agree with the main thrust of both Bills. That is the reason both passed Second Stage in the House. Between the O'Rourke report and the two Bills that have been presented we, as a body, should come up with proposals that are acceptable to Members and then pass it to the other House. It will be then up to the Members there to decide whether they wish to implement the reforms this House favours.

We cannot rush into reform at this point in time and we cannot say we will implement the Bills straight away. Everyone will rightly focus on the budget and on jobs for the next few weeks. However, this gives us time for calm reflection. The vote of the people should not be taken only as a matter of retaining the Seanad as it is. It was a vote for reform and we have to go about our business in a proper, professional and calm manner, which requires reflection. By mentioning the word "reflection", people will say we are again kicking this issue to touch. I hope that will not be the case and that the Government will give serious consideration to the reports and Bills that have been published in order that we can have meaningful reform. It will be difficult because the main thrust of the reports and the Bill relate to how the Seanad will be elected. That is the sticking point and it will be difficult to implement some of the proposals before us but where there is a will, there is a way. There has to be a way to implement the ideas in the Bills and the O'Rourke report. I have opened the debate and I am sure we will have many contributions on the political reform. The reason the debate is entitled political reform rather than Seanad reform is that one cannot happen without the other and without us working together on this matter.