Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator McDowell, to require that provision be made for Committee Stage of the Seanad Bill 2016 to be debated in Government time in the forthcoming autumn term. We had a debate on this issue on the first day of this Seanad, when it was the first matter brought before the House. Many of us stood on the plinth to propose the Bill on that first day. This is the first Seanad after the public, in its wisdom, decided that it was interested in and engaged with the Seanad. People wanted to be part of its deliberations and of the Seanad process. They recognised its additional value. They also wanted reform. I strongly believe that there was a mandate for reform in the referendum. When I campaigned on the doorsteps for the retention of the Seanad, people told me they wanted reform.

The Government gave a commitment in the programme for Government that it would pursue the implementation of the Manning report as a priority. Sadly, it has not been a priority. It is one year later and there has not been any movement in this regard by the Government. The very reasonable proposal put forward by Senator McDowell would give the Government the opportunity to show that it is serious about proceeding with the implementation of the Manning report and that it intends to work with Members across the House to ensure that people see genuine sincerity in politics with regard to Seanad reform. There is scope on Committee Stage for people to put forward the concerns they may have by tabling amendments and debating them properly, as we should do as legislators.

I urge the acceptance of the proposed amendment. We should bear in mind that there have been two referendums on this issue, the one I mentioned earlier and the one on the 1979 amendment which has still not been implemented. We have been waiting a long time for this. We must be in good faith with the people of Ireland and ensure we respect their concerns on this issue. We want them to be part of our process as a Seanad.