Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

All of us on the university panel have always called for such an extension. When the Taoiseach was in the House speaking on Seanad reform in the aftermath of the referendum he gave a commitment in that regard. It is most welcome to see today's newspaper reports that the Government is now considering a Bill to extend the university franchise.

It is a step on the way to ensuring we see reform of the Seanad through legislation. We should have another debate on this in the new year. I hope we will and that at that point we will see more concrete proposals coming forward, not just from the Government but from all parties. We already have two Private Members' Bills which have passed Second Stage in this House and which provide for reforms through legislation. I would welcome further debate on the issue that would look at the sort of concrete reforms we can make through legislation. I welcome the reports on the expansion of the university electorate, which is hugely important. It is great to see the institutes of technology, the DIT and the other institutes, becoming part of the electorate. The DIT graduates had a vote for the university seats for some years, prior to it getting the right to award its own degrees. Therefore, it is not true to say no institute of technology graduates were represented in the Seanad. The three of us here from the University of Dublin represent some DIT graduates. It is great to see the expansion of the vote to all third level institutions.

I also welcome the CSO data published today, which shows an increase of 58,000 people at work over the past year and a rise in employment of 3.2%. This small rise is welcome, but must be taken with caution. The data also shows a parallel decrease in the unemployment rate, from 13.6% to 12.8% in the last quarter. This is welcome. It is particularly welcome that long-term unemployment has reduced. Will the Leader arrange a debate in the new year on the unemployment data and the measures we can take to allow this pattern continue?

The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, has promised to bring before us her implementation plan for the youth guarantee before Christmas and we will debate job creation in that context. However, we should have an opportunity in the new year to debate job creation, in particular the sort of measures and policies that can be implemented by the State in this regard. The Minister has spoken of the role the family income supplement can play in helping people return to work, by allowing a top-up payment to employees on low pay with children to ease the transition from welfare to employment. Currently, more than 40,000 working families are covered by the scheme. This is the sort of scheme that can assist in helping people return to work and we could usefully debate this in the new year.