David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have a final point to make. I welcome the Government statement of intent to broaden the Seanad electorate by including graduates of all third level institutions. There is a need to examine the technical implications of that change, because it will create constituencies as large as those for elections to the European Parliament. Having said that, the proposed change is not enough. The Government also has the capacity, within legislation to effect that particular change, to democratise the electorate for the political panels. We should put down amendments to that effect in this House. We must fight not just on the university situation, but for the democratisation at the same time of the existing panels.