Katherine Zappone (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his remarks. I also thank my colleagues, to whom I have listened very carefully. We have had a very fine debate on the motion and the amendment. I regret that the Minister of State was not able to offer some more reflection on what we have said due to time constraints, although I will accept that he attempted to do so. I would have liked to hear more of his views on some of the very creative ideas that the Leader has put forward regarding procedural reform which I will absolutely support. Indeed, I look forward to that moving forward. The ideas on engagement that the Deputy Leader has put forward will be brought to her own political party later and I wish her all the best with that and hope she is successful with her arguments, some of which fit in with the motion.

Rather than make the summing up points I had prepared, I wish to address the script from the Minister of State, which is essentially a speech on behalf of the Government. I welcome the fact that the general scheme of the Bill to extend the university franchise will be brought to the Government in the coming weeks, which sounds like it will happen fairly soon.

As our motion is based on a sense of urgency, I am delighted to hear that. It is also welcome that the Minister of State has noted how Senators are elected through the two sub-panels of nominating bodies and Oireachtas Members. Essentially, some Senators are elected by nominating bodies, while others are elected by Oireachtas Members.

On the first part of the motion, the Minister of State has argued that, when framing the Constitution, if it was the intention that there would be a universal franchise for the Seanad, it would have been provided for. I reject this argument for the clear reasons I gave in my opening statement. The Constitution states the law will regulate this, not the Constitution. The law for Seanad elections has been changed before and can be changed again. The Constitution is also a living document. This is a statement of “No” from the Government to a universal franchise and one person, one vote for Seanad elections. I also reject the point that the Constitution provides that the remaining 43 Members of Seanad Éireann are elected by Oireachtas Members, as it is not accurate.

The establishment of a task force on Seanad electoral reform is to be welcomed. I do not know if its members have been chosen yet, but it needs to happen soon. It should also have a set date for the end of its investigation if we want to have a radical electoral reform programme including a universal franchise and providing for one person, one vote for Seanad elections, as contained in the motion. If this does not happen, there will be an electorate of 1,167 for the next Seanad election. That electorate will be politicians and controlled by the incoming Government. It will be a mini-Dáil coming from the politicians. This will mean less room for minority and independent voices and fewer Senators representing and engaging with civil society according to the sectors which elect them through the panels.

The Minister of State’s speech and the Government’s amendment to the motion give a clear “No” to a universal franchise. The idea of a universal franchise will not be part of the remit of the task force. I have not heard either when it will be established or report.