David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will not be rhetorical. I have spoken passionately on this issue over the last 40 years. Along with my university panel colleagues I have consistently supported the 1979 referendum to extend that panel. I made the suggestion that the Dublin City University and DIT should be included with Trinity College Dublin and that Limerick University be included with the National University of Ireland, NUI. The problem is the enormous size of the panel. I will come back to that issue later.

This Bill provides us with an opportunity to get rid of the rotten boroughs. I am not criticising any individual Senator: they all have their value but the rotten boroughs have to go. The Taoiseach's 11 nominees is one of those rotten boroughs. This Bill, admirable as it in many ways, looks only at what can be done by legislation. Why not now grasp the nettle and go for a referendum?

I understood Senator McDowell to say that there was always a question of reform. I am afraid there was not. The Taoiseach, Deputy Kenny, turned his face against it during the referendum process when he said that the question was one of abolition or retention of the Seanad and that there was no question of reform.

As I said, the Bill looks at what can be done and it does a great deal in terms of reforms that can be brought about by legislation only. In regard to the sections dealing with the universities, in 1979 the universities got the power to extend the range of groups included but they did not suggest that it should be one constituency.We are talking about 850,000 to 1 million people. It is absolutely insane. Despite what anybody says, I can tell you, as somebody who has been in this House for 30 years, this will lay it open to being infiltrated by the political parties. The independence will be gone. Senator Craughwell is an accident - a very good and valuable accident, but it only happened because the Taoiseach tried to put some fellow from Donegal who ran a petrol station onto the board of the Irish Museum for Modern Art. I do not think he had ever seen a painting.

Under the section dealing with constituencies there is a list of higher education institutions, but they are not done alphabetically. If they were, Dublin City University would be first; if it was historical, the University of Dublin would be first. The Government should be think carefully before abolishing a constituency that has served this country without a single break since the beginning of the 17th century. It is the oldest and most distinguished constituency in this country. I am looking at the number of people that will be brought into the constituency. I do not want to denigrate anyone, but this is bringing in tradespeople. It is bringing in house painters through the mention of "a linked provider of a designated awarding body as defined by the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012". As far as I can understand, this refers to the trades and guilds; perhaps I am wrong. Now, I have nothing against house painters-----