Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Norris's wonderful proposal and congratulate him on coming up with it. I am delighted the Committee on Procedure and Privileges also supports the proposal. I urge all Senators to indicate their enthusiastic support for it. Even just issuing an invitation would greatly increase the stature of the House. That stature is in our hands to a very large extent. Last evening, Senator Crown introduced the Protection of the Public Interest from Tobacco Lobbying Bill 2013. We had a very good debate on this legislation and I am of the view that the reputation of the House was enhanced as a result. A meeting took place with the Taoiseach yesterday in order to obtain his views on Seanad reform. I got the impression that the reform he has in mind is very limited in nature. There is an onus on us to ensure that any reform that comes about will not just be limited to changes relating to the university Senators' seats.