Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the students who have come here today. I commend the Cathaoirleach, the Seanad staff and the Leader on the launch of Northern Voices. It was an excellent presentation and exhibition. The contribution of all the speakers, including the Leader, was insightful. It brings us to the question raised by colleagues, namely, Seanad reform. I brought a Bill before this House in November 2020 that aimed to enact the seventh amendment to the Constitution, which was to extend voting rights to other higher education graduates. At the time, in response to the legislation, the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, a Minister for whom I have enormous respect, said:

These are issues that must be considered and addressed in the coming months as part of Seanad reform measures, subject to Cabinet agreement in 2021. I welcome the debate that has taken place.

The Leader might have a greater insight than I do but I am not aware of any Cabinet agreements to move on Seanad reform. The Minister, Deputy Harris, spoke to me earlier this year to support the proposals to finally extend the franchise in the university constituencies. I ask that at some stage in the coming weeks, the adjourned debate be resumed because I think it is important. I welcome the Leader's comments yesterday. We should have a realistic debate about Seanad reform.A lot of very welcome changes have been initiated by the Leader and the Cathaoirleach over the past two years but the question around the franchise, about which people have concerns, still exists. I hope we can have that debate.