Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

First, I join with others in wishing Deputies Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall well. They are two amazing politicians. Regardless of what the Cathaoirleach or I may think of all of their policies, I salute their tenacity, hard work and absolute commitment to parliamentary democracy.

We talk about democracy but we sometimes forget about the lack of parliamentary democracy in here, which is partly to do with the dynamic of the number of Government Members versus those in opposition. I acknowledge that because it is very important. I join with Senator Gavan and others who talked about that matter. Will the Leader formally write to the Taoiseach, particularly as this is a matter for the Leader's office? I wrote to him earlier in respect of a number of matters, some of which I will touch on in a moment. Ultimately, it is a matter for the House and the Leader to invite the Taoiseach to come here. I think he would be keen to come this side of the summer recess.

We have a great deal of engagement. There are a number of issues: one that comes to mind is the Tomás Heneghan Supreme Court challenge to which the Government responded with a proposal on legislation for universities, which is being discussed at the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, part of the remit of which relates to the franchise and elections. That is an important issue, and we need to hear where the Government is going take us in that regard. It has a response and a strategy, but we need to know something about it.

It is for another forum, but I also intend to raise with the Taoiseach – I did so today in correspondence – how we elect the Cathaoirleach of the House. I checked the processes with the Ceann Comhairle's office last week, and I am fully aware of them. We have a great democracy in the Lower Chamber for how we elect our Chair, but somehow we have concerns or resistance. We could have no better man than the Taoiseach in here in order that we might put a number of questions to him. I believe he is personally supportive of it. Somewhere along the line, there is mixed messaging. One of the problems with a political Whip system is that people seem to lose voice, or lose the courage to give voice to their beliefs.

I extend a warm invitation to the Taoiseach of this country to come to Seanad Éireann to discuss whatever he may wish to discuss. It would be an important engagement, and one he would welcome before the summer.