Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We do not need to reinvent the wheel. I do not know whether we need to do exhaustive research, as it has all been done. There are up to eleven reports and many people with much knowledge, skill-sets and abilities who can extract what is good and bring forward a conclusive report on which we all agree.

Having been in the other House also, the much bigger question of political reform relates to it. While the Seanad has been under the microscope for the past six months, there has not been such microscopic analysis of the other Chamber. Political scientists from all educational institutions say the same thing about the other Chamber, namely, that the electoral process and multi-seat constituencies must be changed. That leads exclusively to clientelism and as long as that is the case members of political parties will look over their shoulders at their party colleagues as they are all chasing the same vote. Fine Gael members chase the Fine Gael voters in a constituency, as do members of Fianna Fáil, the Labour Party and others. That is the biggest mistake within the political process in this country.

The analysis of legislation in this Chamber is far ahead of the analysis in the other Chamber. I say that from my experience of both Chambers. What we should do is facilitate the creation of better legislation, which is not happening at the moment. It will not happen unless we are inventive, original and daring. It is not easy for politicians to be daring because we are all satisfied with the status quo. We leave things as they are rather than take a chance of making an original change. That is the reason every Government for the past 50 years has not changed this Chamber. A Government Bill has not been rejected by the Seanad since the 1960s. I was not born in the 1960s. The body politic does not change the system because it is grand. No one wants to make the structure uncomfortable or upsetting.

Following the referendum I am hopeful that we will get the co-operation of the other Chamber. Such co-operation is crucial to pass legislation that will facilitate the expansion of a better role for Seanad Members without a referendum. We should try to introduce change before the next general election. We do not know when that will be, but at the latest it will be spring 2016. There is time enough to be original and inventive, but we must want it.