Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I again welcome the former Senators Dr. Manning and Mr. O'Toole. I congratulate them on the work they have done. They have obviously put a lot of work into the issue. The Constitution was adopted in 1937 and we are subject to its constraints. Therefore, we have had to adjust to this fact. The working group on Seanad reform has done a very good job in looking at the issue and looking at what has been established on that basis.

I believe the Taoiseach said the implementation body would operate very soon. I am not happy with the term "very soon". I would have thought that by this stage we would have something that was much closer.

Let me touch on some items that may not have cropped up since the previous time I spoke on the matter. Senator Darragh O'Brien mentioned a concern about emigrants' votes and spoke about representation without taxation. I believe the Seanad does not really have that problem because there is no taxation in this House. Therefore, the principle of representation without taxation does not apply in this case.