Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that is, to take No. 3 before No. 1. I am seeking leave to introduce the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill to give effect to the seventh amendment to the Constitution, which, Members will be aware, was passed in July 1979 but never enacted. It is to extend voting rights in Seanad elections to the university panel to graduates of institutions other than those provided for, including Dublin City University, University of Limerick, Dublin Technological University, which is new, Munster Technological University and the institutes of technology. The legislation provides for the Minister to determine which institutions. I totally accept that there is a need for broader Seanad reform but, in this case, the intention is to give effect to a measure voted for by the people in 1979, to introduce a six-seat panel and to open it up to many more graduates. This is part of an overall reform programme. I seek leave to introduce the Bill.

I wish to raise the decision made yesterday. I can understand, for public health reasons, why it was made. As a consequence of it, we are going to see over the coming weeks very clear differences in what is permissible. Large gastropubs will be open and supermarkets will be able to sell slabs of beer for house parties, yet the small, rural, family-run pub will not be open. This has an impact on hotels and other venues that host wedding receptions. A constituent of mine is to have a wedding reception for 90 people next week and legitimately expects it to go ahead. With regard to wedding venues and so on, regard should be had to the actual space rather than the numbers. We are allowed to have only a certain number of Members in this Chamber because of social distancing guidelines. Consideration has to be given to those who are planning weddings in the coming weeks, in particular.