Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We come into this House on a daily basis and listen to Senator after Senator on the Order of Business speak about the constituencies in which they live and issues that are more pertinent to a county council or to the Dáil. This is the Upper House of Parliament. This House of Parliament is here to keep a check on Government, not to resolve issues that can be resolved by county councils or Dáil Deputies. Commencement Matters should be reserved for national issues, not those of a local nature.

Leaving that aside, the reason I ran in the by-election was because I wanted to participate in the reform of this House. As my colleague, Senator O'Donnell stated, Senator McDowell's Bill is flawed - we are all flawed in some way or other - and will require substantial amendment on Committee Stage. The Bill sets out a process for the election of a reformed Seanad but it does not set out a function for that entity. The function of the Seanad is an issue we will have to address in tandem with the process.