David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We must be able to question the procedure. The system is rotten. Deirdre Clune was elected in a sham of an election, but at least it was better than this one will be. In regard to the appointment of Mr. McNulty to the board, I do not believe there has been or will be a board meeting held at all during the course of his tenure of the office which he will have to leave the minute he is elected here. It is an utter sham. He will not attend a board meeting and prating on about how his commercial expertise will be valuable to IMMA is incorrect. How will it be valuable if he is not at a board meeting and is only on the board for two weeks? It is a grotesque farce.

The only responses of the Taoiseach was that it his right and entitlement to make such an appointment and that he can do what he wants. This matter has completely exposed Fine Gael - I do not speak of my colleagues in the House and I know their attitude towards this - in terms of reform of the Seanad. This is a ridiculous by-election and nothing could more clearly demonstrate how utterly inappropriate the methods of election to this House are.

The Taoiseach, in response to his defeat in the referendum, had undertaken to reform the University seats, the only democratic element in this House. He is leaving untouched the entire area which he, by his actions, has exposed as a sham and a collection of rotten boroughs. I do not think the Irish people will take to a piecemeal reform of Seanad Éireann. We now have, accidentally but clearly, a classic case for complete reform of Seanad Éireann, including its methods of voting, election and nomination. This must now be up for grabs. We cannot put up with a piecemeal approach with a vindictive and spiteful attack on the University seats and an attempt to delete them because we are the most annoying part of Seanad Éireann.