Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Do the people who push for reform get thanked for doing so? That is a debate for another day.

The Cathaoirleach has the pleasure of chairing the Seanad Public Consultation Committee, of which I am delighted to be a member. Its establishment was an initiative mooted by the previous Leader, Maurice Cummins. It was set up to examine and report on issues that affect Irish society and that are deeply held within the mindset of Irish people. One example is the groundbreaking farm safety report. It received national and international coverage in terms of pulling all the relevant stakeholders together. We advertised for submissions and received many. We opened the Seanad Chamber to between ten and 12 groups and they gave oral submissions. We based a report on all of the submissions and made significant recommendations. As one person involved in farm safety said, every time a line is written in the media about farm safety awareness is raised and, potentially, lives are saved. That is one initiative that was done in the absence of reform. I have no doubt that an awful lot more can be done in this Chamber without reform.

Of course we all want to see a lot more people partake in the electoral process. At the same time, I do not want the important and unique role played by councillors in electing Senators denigrated to a major extent either. I agree that the vocational panels are not as reflective as they could be.

I was nominated by the National Council for the Blind of Ireland. I was elected to the Administrative Panel, which is supposed to reflect disabilities and voluntary community groups. I feel that I strongly represent the organisation that nominated me because I am legally blind with just 16% eyesight.