Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I commend my friend and colleague from the other side of the House, Senator Wilson, for proposing this Bill. As he stated, it is a small step in Seanad reform and relates to the 43 Members elected by the panels and a by-election. I know the Minister has outlined a number of areas that would need to be refined when the Bill reaches Second Stage but giving local authority members a say when a by-election occurs is certainly a step in the right direction. I have no problem with the principle of the Bill that is proposed.

Senator Wilson said that the Government would like to keep the status quowhere Governments have majorities. Without the current system, we might never have had Senator Craughwell. What would we have done?