Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We should be examining the process of educationalists and people involved with culture electing people to the education and cultural panel. People involved with the trade union movement and in business should be involved with the labour panel, for example. Those involved with agriculture should have a say in who is elected to the agricultural panel.

I would like to see some reform of the vocational panels. I would not like to see the vocational panels disbanded or some other change made to them. One of the riches I have witnessed in this House is the interests of people and the way in which they are able to bring those interests into debates on the Order of Business and on legislation. I have been extremely impressed by Members from both sides of the House in the short time I have been here.

I am a little concerned about including the diaspora, although it is a lovely, populist thing to say. I hold two passports, as do many other people around the world. Such people could hold up their stars and stripes passport, for example, when there is an election in America and then hold up their Irish passport and vote in a Seanad election, even if they have not been in the country for 40 years. I believe that is wrong in every sense of the word.

Regarding the issue of whether one has a degree or not, I would agree that apprentices are equally as well educated and qualified to elect a Senate Member as anyone who holds a degree. I did not manage to get a degree until I was nearly 40 and have no academic snobbery about me whatsoever.

Finally, I would like to see every member of the public given the option to stand for election to Seanad Éireann. We have set the bar extremely high, particularly when it comes to a Seanad by-election, where a potential candidate must find nine people to support him or her, rather than the four people that are ordinarily required. As I will be throwing myself before city councillors in the not-too-distant future, I want to acknowledge their wonderful contribution to the Seanad.