Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will look at everything. Colleagues will know as I have sat among them and sometimes get into trouble for it that I am a straight shooter and say things as they are and as clearly as I can. I will continue to do so. That is a commitment I make. I will not sit here and say I can change the world in relation to Seanad reform, but I say that I will look thoroughly at the matter. I was appointed only last week, but this is something I have always felt was necessary. It would be wrong of me not to look thoroughly at it given the space I am in. I fully intend to do so. However, I want to move on the agenda from talking about this to embrace everyone's thoughts, not just those from the Government side. This needs a holistic approach. I thank Senator Crown for what he said on SSNOs. I hope to have more definite details in the next day or so.

This is not about patronage, favouritism or jobs for the boys. It is a very technical issue we are trying to sort out. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, will put in place arrangements for the filling of the position of Clerk of the Dáil almost immediately. I expect the post to be advertised publicly very soon. That negates the view that some sort of patronage will be involved. It is fair to say that there were issues in relation to the filling of the vacancy. While I will not go into the matter in detail, it was probably part of the reason the legislation was delayed. It is regrettable that it took this length of time. I have to be straight about that. However, the matter is being dealt with and I expect the appointment process to go ahead speedily, which is very necessary.

I ask the House to support the Bill and I make a broader commitment to Seanad reform.

I will not leave hostages to fortune and claim that the Seanad I would like to see will develop in the next 20 months, but I will put in place the process by which the reform agenda will enter into action. We will deliver change for the Seanad in terms of how it operates, its electoral process and its place in the democratic process. It is necessary that the Seanad be different than the Dail. I have sat in both Houses as well as the European Parliament. Senator Bradford suggested that my time in Europe might influence me. It very much will, as I learned much about how debates should be handled, issues could be addressed across groupings, the question of whips and so forth. My experience will inform my agenda now. I do not have a monopoly on good ideas, so I will embrace suggestions from every side of the political spectrum.

On that note, I hope Senators will respect the fact that I have only been in this position since Friday and these are my initial thoughts on the Seanad reform matter. I ask them to support this technical Bill. The Bill is necessary, which is the only agenda at work.