Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

As this House is aware, there are two Houses in the Oireachtas. It is likely that the Bill will be introduced in Dáil Éireann so that we will have the views of the people's direct representatives on the matter before we get to see it in this House. In the end, the people of Ireland voted to retain Seanad Éireann. The members of the implementation group took that mandate to implement and come up with ways in which the Manning report would be implemented seriously. They addressed their task with great diligence.

We hear the Government programme is about to be extended by agreement between party leaders. If that is going to happen, it will entail the implementation of the Manning report. The legislation will be available for the Dáil and Seanad to consider in the fullness of time. I hope that these moves lead to its adoption and passage quickly. I wish to emphasise of course that it is acknowledged that a radical reform of the kind proposed will take time to implement. In particular, I wish to thank the Members of this House, including my colleague, Senator Ned O'Sullivan, for his constructive input into the phasing in of the new arrangements.

We have to be careful in this House that we do not forget what is happening with regard to Downing Street. Brexit is a tragedy for this country. Ireland will lose its greatest ally in Europe if Brexit proceeds.