Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My first memory of the Seanad was as a child. Long after the fanfare of general elections and posters, my best friend's house across the road would be flooded with election literature for the Seanad. I often wondered, and asked, why it was absent from our letter-box. Obviously, my father went to work at Guinness at the age of 15 and did not go to college. Neither did my mother. Young people and children listen, and I, as a Senator, remain conscious of that inequality. This insight as a child forever informs my understanding of the House.

In October 2013, the people rejected the referendum proposal to abolish the Seanad. However, all participants and parties involved in the referendum were clear in saying the Seanad, in its current form, is elitist, undemocratic and unacceptable. In the discourse that has developed, the result is not viewed as a vote to retain the Seanad in its current form. The House must become fully inclusive, representative, relevant and accountable. After the referendum, the Taoiseach and the Government committed to reform the political system and to ensure the Seanad was a modern and effective second Chamber. Yet, as we have heard from across the House, progress and change have yet to be achieved.

The Seanad was created under the 1937 Constitution and, in the decades since, with few honourable exceptions, it has become synonymous with cronyism and corruption, particularly on the part of the Fianna Fáil party. The latter used the system of political nominees to reward close political allies. The Seanad is also used as a safety net for those who fail to get elected to the Dáil. At no point has the Seanad provided a genuine check on the actions of the Government. Surely we can facilitate the direct election by way of universal franchise of all citizens on the same day as a Dáil vote. Surely, Northern Ireland and diaspora representation could be the norm. Surely, 50% of the representation in the House could be women. Surely groups in Irish society that are traditionally marginalised would be guaranteed representation. Given the many positive aspects of the Bill, Sinn Féin will support it.