David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to compliment Senator McDowell on completing his work on Seanad reform, but I am very concerned about it. I understand that one of the proposals is that there should be one university constituency with six seats and there will be well over 1 million voters for them. This will be the death of the honourable tradition of the Independent voice from the universities. It opens it up wide to the political parties. That is an absolute disaster for Seanad Éireann. I hope, however, that Senator McDowell and his colleagues on the committee will push to get rid of Standing Order 41, which is a real reform of the Seanad, that we can do straight away.

I do not agree at all with the idea of having no Order of Business tomorrow. Tomorrow is an ordinary sitting day and I think it is a great pity if we reduce our commitment to the Order of Business. I am strongly opposing it. I think we should meet tomorrow and should have an Order of Business. We will have plenty of time for the rest of the business.

The final thing I would like to point out is the really beautiful effect, on which the city council should be complimented, of the projection of snow flakes and Christmas images on to the facade of Trinity College, City Hall and the municipal gallery. I do not know if other colleagues have noticed. It is absolutely magical. It really transforms the city of Dublin into a "winter wonderland", to adapt a phrase from an old song. It is really lovely and we should compliment Dublin City Council if it is it which took this initiative.