Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The report was produced in line with the Government's terms of reference. Our additional notes at the back of the report relate to constitutional change, the abolition of nominees of the Taoiseach, the holding of Seanad elections on the same day as general elections to the Dáil, the abolition of a requirement of postal votes, the provision of equal gender representation and the provision of representation from traditionally marginalised groups in society. That said, we believe the recommendations of the report should be implemented as soon as possible.

Today, for the first time, the Minister of State referred to using the result of the referendum on the extension of voting rights in presidential elections to gauge whether people in this State wish to include people in the North. People voted for the Good Friday Agreement which provides for citizenship rights for those in the North. That should be the primary gauge of whether people in the North should be entitled to vote in Seanad elections.

We will see after this debate whether someone will commit to bringing the Bill forward. I hope the Government does so within the next six months such that it can be enacted this term. If not, the Seanad and the Government will be failing to address one of the key objectives of the programme for Government. It would be embarrassing for a Senator to return to the electorate and refer to Seanad reform on his or her election literature if his or her party stifles these issues.