Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It cannot be done for one without the other. I admire and respect Nicola Sturgeon and I would be very happy to hear from her in this House.

I ask the Leader to amend the Order of Business to allow time to discuss the motion on Seanad reform tabled by the Sinn Féin Seanadóirí. It is essential that if the parties are serious about reform, they would at least agree to provide time to discuss one of the first motions laid before the current Seanad. The crux of the motion is to establish a time-limited committee on Seanad political reform. The motion acknowledges the work and progress made by the Seanad reform working group and the resulting report would provide the framework of the work of the committee we suggest but the committee would not be limited by the constraints which applied to the working group in that it would examine the constitutional change that may be required to implement any recommendations. We accept that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges can and will play a very important part in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Seanad but we fail to accept that setting up a six-week committee to give voice to many new Senators to come back to the House with recommendations cannot be done.The intent of the motion is to instill a sense of urgency into the Seanad reform process through the establishment of a sub-committee with a similar remit to the one that was constituted to implement Dáil reform. Surely it would be possible to look at the terms of reference of the sub-committee on Dáil reform and use what is applicable for the Seanad sub-committee. The all-party sub-committee on Dáil reform met regularly under the stewardship of the Ceann Comhairle and, in a three-month period, was able to produce a report that formed the basis of significant procedural reform that has since been adopted into Standing Orders. There is no reason a Seanad sub-committee could not achieve similar aims. It could meet during the summer recess and work in close conjunction with the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, CPP, to ensure the existing Seanad reform proposals are progressed as quickly as possible. If we have to wait until the CPP establishes a sub-committee, it will likely delay the process well into the autumn recess. We acknowledge and concur with the Bill tabled by the Independent Senators, led by Senator Michael McDowell. The Sinn Féin motion in no way impedes the processing of this Bill. In fact, it brings additionality that can only serve to enhance the real, long-lasting and inclusive reform led by this House. Therefore, I ask the Leader to reconsider his reluctance to discuss this motion and ask other Senators to join with us in having a real say in the necessary reform on which we all agree.