Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Senator did not have a vote and I commend him. I fully respect the sovereign decision by the people to retain the Seanad. I have only been a Senator for six weeks but I might be here a little longer. Who knows? It is not necessarily our decision to make and might be one for the other House. I feel that I have an absolute duty to fulfil the responsibility of this House to the best of my ability and will always seek to represent everyone as best I can.

Very many people have passed through this House. A lot of people in the Chamber are a lot more experienced in politics, public life and other careers than I am. It has been humbling to see the names of the people who have passed through this House. I will not list them but I will mention one name. A couple of days after my election I received a telephone call from the principal of my former secondary school. Over the years we have remained close and I always ask him about issues in my local area. The school is located in the same area that I represented as a councillor and he had a good grasp of the many issues that faced the education sector. When he rang we had a general chat but I was struck by his final question. He asked me did I know the name of the last Senator who went to his school. I replied that I did not have a clue who it was and he informed me that it was Gordon Wilson. Many people may not know Gordon Wilson, especially now. To me, he is a legend in terms of the peace process, because of the way he handled himself in the wake of the horrible murder of his daughter and for the way he represented a very small niche community on this island.He called himself a Southern Unionist from County Leitrim. He attended the school I attended in Dublin and the fact that my name will go up on the board beside his is something I have not been able to get my head around. I respect and admire all those who have served in this Chamber, as well as all of the speakers in this debate. I fundamentally disagree, however, with the views of some Members on the Bill and many of the issues that have been raised. I hope I have not been too backward in making this known, but I hope I do not fall out with anybody and that things will be fine in the end.

This is a good Bill. I am yet to be wholly convinced that we need a second House of Parliament, but I am open to being convinced. I like the idea that we are looking at realistic reform, but the problem is that there is no right or wrong answer. Everyone's definition of reform is completely different. Whatever people like to say, the suggestion made by the previous Government, as blunt it was, that we move from a bicameral to an unicameral democracy was an effort at reform. I say fair play to it, as it went and did something about the matter. I would say that, however, as a member of a Government party.

The Upper House has been subject of so many reports, motions and Bills that one can completely understand the general public's level of frustration, as well as that of elected public representatives, at the fact that nothing ever seems to change. We can always talk about political and Seanad reform, but, ultimately, one will never please everyone. In fact, one may fail to please the majority. However, if one is of the opinion that the House, in its current form, is no longer fit for purpose, one has to do something. When the House was established in the 1930s, as Senator David Norris and others said, it was meant to be a refuge for members of the Southern Unionist community. On the last count, subject to correction, three Members of the Houses were members of the Church of Ireland and happy to say so. Only one was elected from the Trinity College Dublin panel - the best of luck to him - but there is no need for this exception to be continued in the Constitution. We have moved so far in our role as an independent and sovereign state that catering for small minorities is not as necessary within a specific House of Parliament, but it is something to be considered in the future.

I commend Senator Michael McDowell for his efforts. He has been consistent on this issue. He was extremely vocal during the referendum campaign. It was also a role played by many in civic society. In this context, I would like to mention Mr. Derek Mooney of Democracy Matters who campaigned for retention of the Seanad and who has been in deep contact with me about many things. It was Democracy Matters that convinced the majority to retain the institution of the Seanad. In turn, it is its responsibility to indicate what its believes would be real reform of the House. I am happy to support it and see the Manning report being brought to fruition. I hope we will see meaningful reform and change but also democracy in this Chamber, one of the merits of which is the respect shown for dissenting views and the opportunity given to speak honestly and openly. I have absolutely no problem in saying that not only did I vote for abolition of the Seanad but that ideally I would rather be in the Dáil. In the way our democracy functions the Dáil has more power, plays a more direct role and has the ability to influence the lives of ordinary people. I do not see the Seanad as a crèche, a stepping stone, a retirement house or as a last refuge but as the second House of Parliament. Whether I serve for much longer or will be chosen as a candidate to run for the Dáil - that decision rests with the party - I will rate my time in this Chamber, however long it may be, very highly. I appreciate the opportunity and the honour to serve in it. I do not want to take away from the honour that it is to serve in it by the fact that in all honesty I would like to be somewhere else. I like to envisage that I will have a political career. Anyone who states he or she has a level of ambition has it knocked out. Let us be honest and not hide behind woolly language. If one believes in something, one should say it.

Like Senator Joe O'Reilly, I, too, wish to refer briefly to Dr. Maurice Manning. If it was not for him, I would not have such an interest in politics and I would not have become involved in it. There is a fair chance I would not have voted for, let alone joined, the Fine Gael Party. I have no family ties with politics. As a first year arts student in UCD, Dr. Manning's lectures were the highlight of my academic week and attended by students not taking the course.

I commend the Bill and look forward to contributing to the debate on Committee and Remaining Stages. I thank Members for contributing and appreciate the respect shown to all Members. I look forward to working with Members across the House to further the aims of the Bill.