Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am less confident following the Minister of State's reply given we have been told there are so many functions for the new electoral commission that it cannot take on the Seanad. There is not even a promise that the commission will engage with this issue. Rather, we are being told the reform of the Seanad franchise is not even being considered as part of the agenda for the electoral commission. That completely contradicts much of what we have heard.

I will not reiterate everything we have heard about the pretty shameful timeline and various obfuscations in regard to this but I will make one point. When we had the first referendum in 1979, people voted to extend the franchise of the university electorate. We have now had two referendums. When people voted to retain the Seanad, we had people who did not have a vote in the Seanad voting to maintain it because they recognised the crucial role it plays in dealing with legislation in this State. It was an expression of choice by the public, every voter in this country, in a referendum indicating they wanted the Seanad and to have a say in it. The title of that campaign was "Open it, Don't close it". Every Seanad since has been in place on sufferance of the fact that the public gave a mandate for reform. To move past that, glibly dismiss it, put it on the long finger and say the Government has loads of issues to deal with when all kinds of other issues have been added to the electoral commission’s work, including the running of lotteries, is unacceptable. To say that one half of the legislative process in the Oireachtas and making sure every person in Ireland has a vote and say in who represents them in these crucial discussions is not a priority and should not even be on the agenda for the new electoral commission is unacceptable.

I urge the Minister of State to look to the other amendments to the section. He has brought forward amendments. There would be no delay to the passage of the legislation if, for example, he were to bring forward an amendment at least setting out a pathway to Seanad reform. If this Bill passes without any reference to Seanad reform, that will be a mark on the Government and one to be remembered and noted. I am very disappointed we do not have progress on this. I may seek to change the functions I would give to the electoral commission on Report Stage, and I will reserve that right. The functions, as I have set them out, are constructive. I will press the amendment.