Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the ongoing refugee, asylum seeker and migrant crisis in the Mediterranean where there is enormous activity and in which Naval Service ships have been deployed from time to time. This morning I listened to a BBC radio programme which covered the plight of those arriving in Italy and the circumstances in which they were being kept. The Minister of State at the Department of Defence should come to the House at some point to update us on what is happening at European and inter-armed forces level to devise a real strategy to deal with these issues. If the way into Europe is to have a tide of people crossing in boats that are wholly unsuitable, with many of them losing their lives, and if part of that scene is their rescue on a humanitarian basis and being brought to Italy, there are huge problems not merely for Italy but also for the entire Continent of Europe, with which the Minister of State should deal.

We are coming to the end of this term of the Seanad and I am anxious that progress be made in debating the Seanad Reform Bill that was placed before the House. There are many views on it, but they could be accommodated in the debate. I have never heard of a chamber that was afraid of debating a Bill. We should get on with debating the Bill. The former Taoiseach wrote to my group on 8 December 2016 stating the Government, comprising Fine Gael and the Independent Alliance, was committed to the establishment of an implementation group to oversee implementation of the reforms and that A Programme for a Partnership Government contained a commitment to progress them. He then proposed that we establish an implementation group and seek the nomination of persons from both Houses of the Oireachtas to it, but nothing has really happened since. Another eight months have passed since that letter was written, which, itself, came late in the day. I, therefore, propose an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 47, non-Government motion No. 23, be taken before No. 1 and that the motion be dealt with by the House in short order. It reads: "That Seanad Éireann resolves that provision should be made for Committee Stage of the Seanad Bill 2016 to be debated in Government time during the autumn term 2017".This is not an exorbitant demand. It is merely aimed at ensuring that we should get on with the business in order that everybody would have an opportunity to express his or her views. Whether people are in favour of emigrant votes or whatever, they can express their views and the Bill can be amended accordingly. The legislation will not be in operation in time for the next general election so people in this House who fear the implications as to their immediate survival should rest assured that when this Bill is passed, there will be at least one further general election before it comes into operation.