Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When the Taoiseach was appointing his 11 nominees to this Seanad, for the first time in the history of the state, real independent Senators were appointed. There was only one who was a party affiliate of the Taoiseach's. The people got independent Senators. The Taoiseach did that. He was generous and gracious, as he was asked to be. That is a fact.

I am pleased to be standing up here 31 years - or is it 35 years, worse again - after the amendment to the Constitution gave provision for this to be done. I will not say we were hardly around then, we were around but this has taken a long time. We were talking earlier about legislation being introduced in the Seanad, and 35 years is a long time for anybody to wait. The people have spoken on this and the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Hogan, are now implementing what the people want.