Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We marked Seanad 100 this week. It is three years since the Seanad reform implementation group gave its report to the Department of the Taoiseach. The committee was set up by the then Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar. Many Senators here served on it and Deputies as well.

Some of the points proposed by Sinn Féin that were in the final report related to the following: a greater gender balance across the Chamber, something that is being discussed by the gender-equality committee; universal franchise for citizens in the North, overseas and all college graduates; and that the Taoiseach would have regard to marginalised groups when choosing nominees to the Seanad. I wonder why I am hearing nothing at all from Government parties. Why do Senators not care about Seanad reform? I have raised it multiple times. I am aware that Senator McDowell has also raised it. However, we just do not talk about Seanad reform. I cannot let this week when we mark Seanad 100 go by without raising Seanad reform. We talk about everything, including Michelin stars.

Government Senators are in luck. The work has been done. It is on the Order Paper. Sinn Féin would co-sign the Bill if we were given the option. We support the Bill, and we want to see progress on the realisation of the Manning report. I sometimes wonder how people out there do not know about the Seanad or sometimes do not have confidence in it. We need to hear Government Senators talk about Seanad reform. It is beyond time that people had a say in who they elect here. We need to get on with these electoral reforms so that we can get on with our dream about the constitutional change that is needed to make this place more effective.