Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----procedural reforms have been working, as I am sure Members will agree. We have also seen community forums invited to the House. I would like to see more of that, and I know it is on the Leader's agenda. However, more needs to be done. It is our own policy.In 2009, it was proposed that every citizen would have a vote in the Seanad, as is proposed in the Bill. The issue is how to properly achieve this shared objective, which has been recommended in 11 reports. An election that excludes the majority of citizens from participation lacks popular legitimacy and we all agree that the issue must be addressed.

I am speaking to section 1, which sets out definitions and covers a multitude of issues. The nominating bodies are to be removed from the process and replaced with a requirement to have 1,000 signatures in support of a nomination. Senators nominated by various nominating bodies all have special interests, for example, disability and blind or deaf people. While it is good that bodies have an input in the nominating process, we must make the process broader and more representative.

I attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht which discussed the electoral register. The Bill proposed by Senators Zappone and Quinn envisaged a role for the Northern Ireland Electoral Commission. The Bill before us does not appear to make such provision. People from Northern Ireland have made a contribution to the Seanad for many years and the Leader has invited representatives from Northern Ireland before the House on more than one occasion.

We hear a great deal about cloud computing and postal votes. The issue of cybersecurity has not been fully addressed. The centre for cybersecurity at University College Dublin is working with a group established by the Taoiseach to consider this issue. The Government has agreed a way forward in respect of registering people to vote. It will take time to implement, however, because the number of electors is large. We would have another mess on our hands if the register was not done properly.

We must be careful about proposals we make or agree to. While the spirit of the Bill is good, I do not like many of its provisions because they are unworkable. If the vote is extended to the diaspora, will we end up with more people from outside the country voting in Seanad elections than people inside the country?

Work is being done on the report on Seanad reform. I hope the Government will place Seanad reform at the top of its agenda when it has been re-elected. I was disappointed to learn that Senator Crown has decided not to run for the Seanad again. He has made a good input in the House, including through this Bill. I will ask questions as we proceed through the sections.