Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome this debate and I thank the Leader for his contribution during the debate on the referendum. The number of people who voted to retain the Seanad works out at more than 10,000 votes per Senator, which is equivalent to a quota for a Deputy. It was a substantial vote in favour of keeping the Seanad and we should not forget this. With regard to politics, democracy and the cost issue, when one considers countries that do not have democracy, one appreciates everything we have here. People had an opportunity to state whether they no longer wanted the Seanad. They decided comprehensively that they wanted it retained.

I came to the House from the European Parliament and I have serious issues with the time the voting procedure here takes. The European Parliament has a set time for voting, which is between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., and during this time up to 200 votes can be dealt with at 30 seconds per vote. When Bills are going through the Seanad, votes can be called on individual sections. I would like this procedure to be examined to see whether each section could be debated as it arises but the votes taken together at certain times. This may require major reform, but it is about effective use of time. We should consider it.

Many people have raised the issue of European directives. The need to scrutinise EU legislation was one of the first issues I raised when I came to the House. We should also examine the Commission's programme for each year. In November of each year the Commission publishes its work programme for the following 12 months, and I do not believe it has ever been debated in either House of the Oireachtas. Its programme will affect us, perhaps not now or in 12 months' time, but at some time in the future. It would be appropriate to discuss the Commission's programme when it is published to see the issues coming down the road of which we need to be aware. Today the European Parliament dealt with cigarettes and the tobacco industry. In fairness, the Minister for Health and the Taoiseach wrote to MEPs in support of the change required. We should debate at a very early stage not only directives but also the entire programme, whether it is a 12-month programme or a five-year programme.

Many people are very critical of Oireachtas committees. I am lucky to be on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, which I consider to be a very good committee. One reason it is so good is that no one plays politics. All of the contributions from everyone involved are extremely constructive. It has been extremely successful and long may this continue.

Senator Darragh O'Brien raised the issue of working together. In Brussels we all sat down around the table and worked through issues. I have given the example previously of the cross-border health care directive. I did deals with the communists, the Union for Europe of the Nations, UEN, the liberals and every group to bring through the amendments I wanted. On committee stage more than 400 amendments were dealt with. Everyone had a part to play and people did not vote against an amendment because it came from a particular party; they voted in favour of it because of the benefits it would bring and because it would make the directive a better document. We should consider these issues when examining reform of the House.