Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The House will be aware that the Seanad Bill has now passed Second Stage and is awaiting debate on Committee Stage. Obviously, it is a matter for the groups to determine when Committee Stage hearings should commence.

It occurs to me that perhaps we need a little more clarification from the Government, in particular, before we embark on that process. I am addressing my point to the Leader, as the spokesman of the Government in the House. As I understand it, a programme for Government was agreed which stipulated, among other things, that the report of the Manning committee would be implemented. The Taoiseach has come to the House and spoken about his commitment to this project. The Members of the other House are under the impression, as I understand it, that the Government is committed to this enterprise. Presumably, the parties that support the Government, including the Independent Alliance, Fine Gael and the other Independent Members, are committed to the forwarding of this proposal.

It seems to me, therefore, that there should be no doubt about the intentions of the Government in respect of this Bill. I was a little disturbed when I discovered recently that a Member had described this Bill as a Bill of Senators Michael McDowell, Gerard Craughwell, Victor Boyhan, Frances Black and John Dolan. That is because the Bill is supported by many other Members and it carried their signature.