Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree that we can come up with a properly reformed Seanad and there is no Member of this House or of Fine Gael who will stand in the way of bringing reform here. The Taoiseach promised a referendum and it was held. He said that he would set up a group to look at it and consultation did take place with the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. We have lots of reports.

While there is an awful lot to admire within the Bill, there are some problems with it as well. It repeals two existing Seanad electoral Acts and does not adequately put in place what I would see as a workable solution. The Taoiseach has agreed that the procedural reform will take place quickly and the all-party groupings in both Houses, including the Government through the Leader of the Seanad, put forward proposals. I have also been informed that the Taoiseach is to establish a working party to examine the issue. We must all put our heads together and today I welcome the Bill. I think we will learn a lot from it, and with all parties working together it will be a better proposal at the end of the day. Submissions and proposals that have already been submitted to the Leader of the Seanad and to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges will all be taken into consideration.

The working party will be----