Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief because, as Senator Crown has said, the time is limited. I commend Senator Crown for pursuing this Bill rather than leaving it lying on the Order Paper to die with the current Seanad.

While I appreciate this is only one proposal on Seanad reform that has been initiated during the course of this Seanad and since the referendum, Senators Quinn and Zappone had a proposal and my party had proposals, and, indeed, the Government had proposals in this regard, and while there are sections and proposals in the Bill that I would not agree with, it is sending out a signal that we are serious about wanting to reform ourselves.

Mention has been made of the 1979 referendum, which was initiated by an uncle of mine who was then Minister for Education and the arts. It is regrettable that nothing has happened in relation to extending the university franchise. However, it would be easy to do that and nothing else, and to do that in isolation would not be appropriate.

We need to address Seanad reform. I hope we will get an opportunity to come back into this House to work on that in the years ahead. While the Government, to go by what Senator Keane stated, will not be accepting this here today, my party will vote for it because we believe, flawed and all as it may be in certain respects, it is a start and we must move on from here. I would urge the Government to accept Senator Crown's Bill.