Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have listened with great interest to the various parts of this debate, both inside and outside the Chamber. I suppose one wonders whether there is a yearning for reform in here at all. I will share my thoughts nonetheless.

I am delighted and very proud to have been elected a Member of Seanad Éireann. It is something I never thought I could dream of. I have no academic qualifications and I was not in school from six to seven to eight years old, through no circumstances of my own making. I later studied horticulture, thanks to the Department of agriculture and its grant and subsidy. It allowed me to go to Teagasc and study horticulture through sweat and tears. I worked at age 11 in a bakery out in Dún Laoghaire to pay for my education. My greatest ambition was to buy a bicycle at 14 so I could cycle to my school and, eventually, to college. The Seanad allows people to come here. The day I walked in the door, every hair on my neck stood up with pride, as I was coming here with people close to me and who supported me through those difficult times. I was coming to the very centre of political life in this country. It opens doors, which I acknowledge. Nobody wants to come here to speak about personal experiences but we all see the world from where we stand and our experiences within that world. We bring those experiences to the very core and being of what we try to do for the good of other people. We also work for our integrity and self-esteem, which is important.

I thank Senator Michael McDowell for introducing this important Bill. Many us remember that before we were ever in the Seanad we spoke about the opportunity to be here. A number of people said to me, and I imagine to many people here, that they resented the fact that the Seanad is for the academics or the political dynasties. These are the people coming here as a stepping stone, and as a Senator has honestly said, with the goal of getting to Dáil Éireann. That is not right. We must allow every citizen of the country, within the criteria, to exercise a franchise and vote for the Seanad. This is not and should not be a private club. Every citizen of the country who is eligible to vote should be allowed to do so. The big difficulty is how we can bring this about.

I note this Bill is being discussed in Government time. That is a profound indication of the Government's support for it. I note on page 149 of the programme for Government it states: "However, significant reform of the Seanad itself is now long overdue. We will pursue the implementation of the Manning report." That is the Government's commitment. I note Deputy Micheál Martin personally sponsored and pushed a Private Members' Bill relating to Seanad reform and it is very interesting to note what the party proposed. It will be interesting to see if it is consistent in its proposals as we go through this debate in the next few weeks. We have cross-party support. Senator Ivana Bacik outlined some of Labour's commitments for Seanad reform as well. There is much talk about reform but now it is about action.

Deputy Martin, the leader of Fianna Fáil, indicated with respect to the Taoiseach's nominees that "he requires the Taoiseach to take into consideration the need to ensure the following groups or sectors in this jurisdiction and Northern Ireland are considered for nomination: the elderly; the young; the new Irish community; the Irish diaspora; people with disabilities; sporting organisations; the arts, the Travelling community". To be fair to the Taoiseach, he has reflected those in his nomination and I can have no criticism of them. It reflects the broad spectrum and let us be fair.

I have some concerns, as part of ongoing Seanad reform, about the Taoiseach's power to nominate 11 nominees. That is clearly provided for in what I like to call "the people's book", the Constitution. I heard speakers today talking about the Constitution and the Manning report indicates we should operate within parameters without having to go to a constitutional referendum. We are democrats and politicians so let us never fear going to the people. We know what the people said. I note Deputy Regina Doherty is not in the House so I will not quote extensively from what is attributed to her in the national press. The Taoiseach, Deputy Kenny, was personally disappointed with the result of the referendum and the defeat of the proposal to abolish the Seanad. He accepted the result and we must also accept his bona fides. He is a democrat and has lived by the commitment on that day at Dublin Castle, so we must move on. There is no point looking back and scapegoating anybody else.There was broad political consensus among the political parties and others that we need reform.

The elephant in the room are the councillors who have traditionally elected 43 Members. That is the bigger issue. The Fianna Fáil Party has indicated its position clearly, to which I am sympathetic. I was elected, something for which I make no apologies. Turkeys do not vote for Christmas. This is a Chamber where we are discussing our business.

I want to make a stronger case. The elected county and city councils around the country have a democratic mandate. They enrich the lives of the citizens in their communities. I am very uncomfortable with any erosion of that number because they are elected and have a democratic mandate. They bring representations into the House, which is an important point.

On Committee Stage, I would like to see some consideration given to the possibility of there being only two terms for any Member of Seanad Éireann, including me. I am not sure if anybody should sit in the House for more than two full terms. We are discussing Seanad reform. If we cannot make an impression within two terms, what are we doing here? We have to be honest and have broader reform.

I welcome the contribution of Senator McDowell. It is very important, and I co-signed it because it is important that we have this debate. I have no difficulty with the Manning report and I pay tribute to all who worked on it. Let us not fear a referendum, if we need to push the issue out further. There is no rush; let us get things right.

There may be an opportunity on Committee Stage to tease out the issues. There is no point in kicking the issue down the road. The sooner we confront and explore the issues and each part of the process in regard to the Bill, the better. There are five Stages to a Bill. Let us not have things go on and on because the people are watching and reading about the debates. The people have given the Government a clear instruction that they want their Seanad, which is enshrined in their Constitution, protected. They also want it respected and for us to respect the institution.

How we conduct ourselves in here, operate, attend to our business and bring our individual expertise and life experience to the table is very important and reflects the real work of the Seanad. Let us never deny anyone an opportunity to seek election, to be able to vote and to be elected, to pull up a chair to the Seanad table and participate in what is a great House. I hope it continues to be great and do the great work done by many of our predecessors.