David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry. More than 60% of people did not vote, which is a significant section of the population. We must reflect on that; not just in terms of the referendum but also in terms of future elections as well because we must mobilise people and encourage them to vote.

I said as well on the Thursday before the referendum that the vast majority of people outside the four walls of this House were more concerned about the pressing issues of the budget and unemployment. A couple of hours ago I heard that 65 people have lost their jobs in the Leader’s home city of Waterford. Those are the issues that are exercising people’s minds, yet on Monday we still did not have an Order of Business or clár for the Seanad for this week. When we did get it, as previous speakers said, it was very light. The first thing we must do while having a debate on political reform is to invite the Taoiseach to the House and to be part of the debate because he was the one who called the referendum and who put the proposition to the people. The Taoiseach was also the person who did not engage, debate or sell his own argument.

It was the Taoiseach who did not engage, debate or sell his own argument. A great number of the people who voted "No" actually voted for real reform, not just reform of the Seanad but also the Dáil. They sent the whole matter back to the Government demanding reform. The Government has a responsibility to ensure there is such reform. It is incumbent on the Taoiseach, who moved the referendum Bill in the Dáil, to commit to both the Dáil and the Seanad that he will answer for his failings in the campaign. More important, he should talk about his future plans for reform, not just of the Seanad but also the Dáil.