Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of Members of the Seanad, I welcome Mr. Tom Arnold, chairperson of the Convention on the Constitution. The Seanad is determined to modernise its procedures and actively engage with civic society. To begin this process, we have changed Standing Orders to allow persons and representatives in public and civic life to address Seanad Éireann. As we strive to reform our procedures to make this House more accessible, it is appropriate that we should hear from Mr. Arnold in his role as chairperson of the Convention on the Constitution which, essentially, is a forum in which Irish citizens can have a say on possible changes to the Constitution and how we could adapt and develop it to make it more relevant to the Ireland of the 21st century. It is fair to describe the convention as a new venture in participative democracy in Ireland.

As Members are aware, the Convention on the Constitution is a forum of 100 people representative of Irish society and parliamentarians from the island of Ireland. It was established to consider and make recommendations on a number of matters, including the reduction of the presidential term of office to five years and its alignment with local and European elections; the reduction of the voting age to 17 years; a review of the Dáil electoral system; Irish citizens' right to vote at Irish embassies in presidential elections; provisions for same sex marriage; an amendment to the clause on the role of women in the home and encouraging the greater participation of women in public life and politics; and the removal of the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution.

It is just over one year since the convention held its first meeting. Therefore, it is fitting that we get Mr. Arnold's perspective on the work of the convention to date and how he sees our political, administrative and social structures adapting and changing in the modern world. Before he became chairperson of the convention, he had extensive experience of chairing and serving in governmental and non-governmental boards in Ireland and internationally. He worked as chief executive of Concern worldwide from October 2001, prior to which he worked as assistant Secretary General in the then Department of Agriculture and Food. He worked as chief economist with ACOT, the farm advisory and training body, and the European Commission.

We thank Mr. Arnold for agreeing to appear before the Seanad and welcome him to the Chamber. Given his track record with the Convention on the Constitution and governmental and NGO bodies, we look forward to his presentation and the positive and enlightening discussion that will then ensue.