Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As we all know, there was a referendum in 1979 and, to the best of my knowledge, it is the only referendum question put to and passed by the people that has not been implemented by successive Administrations. I thank everybody involved with the all-party group that worked on the report. It put much effort into the recommendations and drafted legislation. In our 100th year, the referendum question passed four decades ago should be implemented in whatever format the Government sees fit. People in a subsequent referendum voted on the Seanad not as it was but as it could be. I thank Senator McDowell for his hard work in that regard.

I also welcome Ms Jennifer Holly and Samantha to the Gallery and I hope they enjoy their visit to Seanad Éireann this morning.