Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and wish him every success in the position.

I am very pleased to hear the consensus from speakers today in favour of reform of this House and moving ahead with that process. Senator Ardagh, on behalf of Fianna Fáil, has spoken about it, Sinn Féin is committed to it, as is Senator Bacik on behalf of the Labour Party and Senator Higgins on behalf of Civil Engagement. Given that the Leader of the House represents a Government that has as part of its programme the implementation of the Manning report, it strikes me that there is an overwhelming consensus in this House for moving forward on the question of reform, even allowing for the minor difference that Senator Norris has about his own particular constituency. In those circumstances, two things strike me that I want to put before the House. I understand completely that due to the delay in the formation of a Government and the fact the Government is in a minority in the Lower House, there will be a dearth of Government legislative proposals for some time and the volume of Government legislation will be less than has been the case for a long period. I urge the House to make good use of the time available to it to deal with proposals which do not necessarily come from the Government but which are, particularly in the case to which I am referring, in accordance with the programme for Government. We should not just shoehorn everything that is not proposed by the Leader into Private Members' business. Rather, we should order the House's business so as to accommodate what the House in terms of the issues with which it wants to deal. It is in that context that I wish to move an amendment to the Order of Business, namely, that No. 11 be taken before No. 1.