Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the support of the Senators. It is important to remember that the commission is a separate entity from the Executive, as is right and proper. Senator Ned O'Sullivan said that the role of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is to make sure that money becomes available. As a Member, I avail of the services provided by the commission, and it is in my interest, as much as everyone else's, that the best service is available. I believe we have a good service.

Two elements of this Bill - budgetary oversight and legal services - have been expanded. Provision for choir stalls is perhaps something that the commission could look at; providing opportunities for singing is certainly something that is beyond the scope of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

I agree with Senator Paddy Burke on the issue of Seanad reform. Some madcap ideas are being thrown around, and I do not know how workable they are. It has been suggested that people opt for a particular panel and then seek to become an elector of that panel. I do not know if that is workable or how it could be done. I do not know how many registers of electors we would have or how one could identify almost 2.5 million potential voters in particular panels. Perhaps I am naive and this can be done on a wing and a prayer, but I agree with the Senator that we have to have an honest conversation about the Seanad. I brought a Bill through the Seanad after robust discussion with a group of Senators who had read it. I took it to the Dáil last night and it became something of a farce. There is scope within Departments to initiate more legislation in this Chamber. Having commenced several Bills here now, either on my own behalf or on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, it is clear that there is a better level of debate here. It is obvious in many cases that the Members contributing to the debate have read the Bill, whereas Members stood up in the Dáil last night who did not know what they were talking about and who obviously had not read the Bill and were trying to undo an awful lot of the good work that had commenced in the Seanad. There are two commissioners present. It would not be appropriate for the Executive to dictate terms to the commission. If it is the case that schools from Castlebar, Ballina and Belmullet want to come up and regale the Seanad with "Jingle Bells", I am sure Senator Ned O'Sullivan can facilitate it.