Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to speak on this. I thank the Minister of State for joining us in the Seanad. I commend my colleague, Senator Malcolm Byrne, who has worked tirelessly in this area. He is very passionate about extending the franchise for the Seanad vote.

Discussion on the need to reform the Seanad is not new. We could stack reports on Seanad reform a mile high. I know the Cathaoirleach took time over the summer to go through them all. I concur with my colleagues who say it is the time to act in those areas that we can. Certainly, this particular area is one that we should absolutely act on immediately.

When Seanad Éireann was composed in the 1930s, Ireland was a very different place and a country that would be unrecognisable today. Under the leadership of great leaders, such as Eamon de Valera, Seán Lemass and Bertie Ahern, this country has transformed into a highly educated, highly productive and wealthy nation. However, our institutions have not. I support the premise of this Bill that the Seanad needs to catch up with that societal development.

Seanad reform, as I said, is a vast topic that is complex and multifaceted. This Bill proposed sets us down the path of action. It allows us to move on from talking in circles on reform to implementing a reform agenda. Extending the franchise of the university panel of Seanad Éireann to all people who are over 18 and are holders of an appropriate third level qualification from an Irish institute of higher education is a logical and fair starting point.

In the 1930s, one in 50 reached third level on average. Today three in five opt to enter third level, which is something, of course, on which my party is very proud to have led the charge. To exclude certain graduates is elitist and does not make logical sense. For that reason, I fully support this Bill that Senator Malcolm Byrne tabled. A graduate of Technological University, TU, Dublin, University of Limerick, UL, or any other third level institution is just as entitled to participate in the democratic functions of this House as any other graduate. It is completely unjust and is insulting to those who, for whatever reason, did not attend the “right college” to earn them a democratic vote.

I agree with Senator Malcolm Byrne in terms of making this an opt-in process. We must be practical in how we approach this. There were fears expressed that to do such a thing retrospectively would be an administrative pariah. However, the opt-in method deals with that point comprehensively.

Reform of the Seanad is long overdue. As colleagues in the previous debate referenced, we have seen little or no action on the topic since the passing of the seventh amendment in 1979. There have now been 16 Administrations that have, frankly, ignored the 92% “Yes” vote in that referendum. Again, the demands of the people were expressed when this House was maintained by referendum in 2013 with a clear message to reform our ways. We cannot continue to wait and we have no excuse to wait. This Bill is logical and well balanced and shows a further commitment from my party to education and reform.