Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is a pleasure to be back in the House after a busy and productive recess. I add my voice to those of fellow Senators on the transformation of the Chamber. I say well done to all involved and I thank the National Museum for hosting us. However, I echo another sentiment aired yesterday by Senators Alice-Mary Higgins and McDowell. This day next week will be the fourth anniversary of the referendum on the abolition of the Seanad. My party and I opposed that abolition and the referendum was defeated by Irish citizens who looked to the Government to provide meaningful reform of this institution, whether it wished to do so or not. Since then, a Seanad reform Bill was introduced and passed Second Stage almost immediately, followed by a Government commitment to convene a committee on Seanad reform. Nothing has since been done. In spite of numerous calls for it to meet, the committee has not been convened, the Seanad Reform Bill has not been advanced to the next Stage and-----