Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. As my colleague, Senator Byrne said, we support the Bill in principle but I support what Senator Sheahan said with regard to rural Senators. If the plan to abolish the Seanad had worked out for the Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, we would be all wagging our tails and it would be a case of croppies lie down; we would just have to take our beating and walk away. Having been in these Houses for almost 19 years and having served in both Houses, I know it is impossible for any Member of Seanad Éireann who lives outside the Pale to survive without a rural constituency office of some sort, whether it be an office in one's home or an independent office. In the last Seanad, having lost my Dáil seat, I continued to fulfil my obligation to the public, both within the Seanad populace and in Cork South-West. The running cost of my office in 2010, the year before the last election, was €23,000. My accountant advised that having regard to the cost of my rent, rates and electricity and telephone bills, it was not possible for me to continue with it and I had to close it. I now rent a room occasionally. I had 14 clinics last weekend around different parts of my constituency but not one cent is allowed for a Member to do that. Even though I am qualified solicitor I have not taken one penny from my legal office since 2002 when I became a Deputy. I have a legal office in Bantry which unfortunately is now in negative equity. I own a share in it but it is not a milking cow. I am totally dependent on the Seanad for my income. Someone should grasp this nettle. The Committee on Procedure and Privileges put a case before the Minister about this situation but it was ignored and the view was that the Senators were looking for extra money. I am not looking for anything extra.

I have a deep passion for the fishing industry, which is in decline. It is in danger of being wiped out and we face the prospect that the Icelanders, the Spanish and the French will be running the show here.

I have travelled to Donegal, Ros a' Mhíl, Wexford and Kerry at my own expense to meet people to see what can be done to help the fishing industry. We can have it one way or the other. As Members of the Seanad - I was elected from the Agricultural Panel - we have to travel the length and breadth of Ireland. If I go up to Donegal for the weekend, and spend two or three days there, surely I should be able to claim for the expense of travelling. Is that legitimate or not? I have not done so. It is proper that we should all vouch for our expenses, but the curtailments that are imposed on Senators under the current expenses regime are quite restrictive. We can spend all of our money on advertising, but I do not want to advertise. I want to go from A to B to C to meet people, listen to their problems and bring those issues back for discussion in this Chamber. It is a ludicrous situation.

It is time for the current Government to wake up and give some meagre allowance to those who want to run offices in their home areas. Those who are prepared to pay genuine rent, and vouch for and stand over it, should be given fair play and nothing extra. It is about time for that to be promulgated and said. I do not mind cutbacks in our salaries and expenses, but I do not think Senators should continue to be treated as second-class citizens. The people have spoken. I think they said the Seanad has a purpose here. If I was living within 20 miles of Dublin - I am not, unfortunately - I would be in here five days a week. I have a family and I have to go home. I spend half of my working life in my constituency, but no allowance is given for that.

I heard someone speaking about the Galway tent. I think that is the greatest load of rubbish. I was never there. I have been involved in Fianna Fáil since 1969. I would say that half of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party - I am not referring to the very small parliamentary party we have at present - was never in the Galway tent. I was never there. I was never in the K Club or any of these places.