Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish the new Seanad review group success in its deliberations. The group comprises Mr. Maurice Manning, chairperson, Ms Mary O'Rourke, former Leader of the House and former Minister, former Senators, Pat Magner and Maurice Hayes, former Northern Ireland ombudsman, Mr. Tom Arnold, chairman of the Constitutional Convention, Dr. Mary Murphy, UCD, and Ms Elaine Byrne, journalist. I understand they will being their work next week and they must report by March. I acknowledge the e-mail from Senator Craughwell in which he outlined his proposal to extend the group, which is a fair point because it is limited. However, the group will take submissions from the organisations mentioned by the Senator. The group members have a limited time and they will not be in a position to recommend constitutional amendment. No new proposal will be put to the people regarding the Seanad now or in the future.