Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fíor fáilte roimh an Taoiseach, atá anseo linn inniu, agus roimh an méid a bhí le rá aige. Táim dóchasach go bhfuil spiorad nua ag teacht chun cinn sa Teach seo i dtaobh athchóiriú an tSeanaid as seo amach. In his extensive speech, the Taoiseach covered many matters, including very important issues like Brexit and the future relationships between Ireland and the United Kingdom, and between the North and the South. The one thing I would say in relation to all of that is that there are many domestic squalls surrounding this Government. As the Taoiseach pointed out, it is in an unusual position. I want to express my hope that the Government will keep a firm hand on the tiller. Both the economic situation and the position with regard to public sector pay need to be kept under control. We should not allow ourselves to be buffeted too much.

I welcome a number of things the Taoiseach said about the reform of this House. I welcome his reiterated support for the implementation of the Manning report and his commitment to making that happen. I was particularly struck by two features of what the Taoiseach had to say. The first relates to the formation of the implementation group. Those who have read the Manning report will be conscious that it sets out ambitious reforms for the future conduct of elections to this House and the future business of this House. Such reforms will require a huge amount of preparation and groundwork to be put in. The extension of the franchise to citizens who are normally resident in Northern Ireland and citizens who live abroad will be a hugely ambitious task in a short timeframe. I would like to say in that context that the Taoiseach's comments about getting a consensus in the Dáil were very important too. This Chamber is not the only one concerned with this issue. We must ultimately have a broad consensus based not merely on what Members of Seanad Éireann think about how Senators should be elected in the future, but also on what the people of Ireland, through their public representatives in Dáil Éireann, think about the issue.

When the Minister of State, Deputy English, came in here to respond to the debate on the Seanad reform Bill, he outlined in a robust enough way some of the difficulties that are implicit in these reforms. Some people might have seen his remarks as throwing cold water on the matter. I think they were an expression of the Government's desire to see us address this matter in a realistic way. Given that many Members of this House have been well served by the current system, under which they were elected, it would be naive of us to think they would be universally enthusiastic about the adoption of a different system. I emphasise that barring a miracle, the arrangements for the Manning report to be implemented in full will probably not be put in place in time for the next general election. They may be put in place on the Statute Book, which is my hope. From a practical perspective, a register of people in Northern Ireland will have to be compiled and voting arrangements will have to be extended to cover Irish citizens in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. In such circumstances, it is highly unlikely that these arrangements will be fully operational in the near future. I say that to underline the point that those who are reluctant to embrace change should realise that it will take time. It is important to put the new arrangements on the Statute Book now so that they can be implemented with the backing of an Oireachtas implementation group.