Katherine Zappone (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This evening is an opportunity for the Seanad to leave a legacy of commitment to its own reform, thereby leaving a legacy of genuine commitment to political reform, in our debate on the Bill tabled by Senator Feargal Quinn and me. Fintan O'Toole opined yesterday that the political reform project has run into the sand. It does not have to be this way. This evening we can do something immensely significant if we focus on the good. I know from having spoken with members that everyone wants to achieve Seanad reform and that every member wants to demonstrate before the next general election that we could not be counted among those who are part of a system that is unwilling and unable to reform itself. More than a year ago the people voted to retain the Seanad so that it could reform-----