Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I did not interrupt the Senator once. I sat here and listened to her full contribution, as I have done on many occasions on many different pieces of legislation and on many different issues. I never interrupt the Senator.

All that I am saying to the Senators who right now, on Second Stage, feel they should oppose this legislation is that if they oppose it, they are effectively opposing the road to Seanad reform. Whether this is imperfect or not extensive enough, and I respect that view, it is a step in that direction through extending the franchise.

I say honestly and openly that I will look at the amendments that are tabled on Committee Stage, be they from the Government or the Opposition. I ask Senators for their co-operation. If at all possible, I would like to move this forward on Committee Stage quite soon. There has been a request in the House that we try to expedite this legislation in the current Oireachtas term. I do not know how long the current term will last - that is above my pay grade, as someone said.

I respect the points that have been raised, and even those who are supporting the legislation have acknowledged there are people who feel it should go further. However, the Bill is as it is right now. It is in response not only to the Supreme Court judgment but also, as I mentioned in my opening contribution, to the work that has been done by many Senators.

I did not oppose the Bill that was brought forward by Senators Malcolm Byrne, Pat Casey and Shane Cassells. As Minister, I said honestly at the time, back in 2021, that the programme for Government did not have a commitment to extend it further at that stage.That is just the reality of it. I would have been operating outside of my remit. I am being honest with people about that. The Senators are all legislators and have been here for a long time. We can throw the baby out with the bathwater, or we can move forward together on Seanad reform. That will be a basis on which an Oireachtas of the future can move further, for which I have been an advocate in the past, both as a TD and as a Senator. I respectfully ask Senators to reflect on that.

I seek Senators' co-operation in moving to Committee Stage shortly. We will contact the Leader of the House in that regard. I look forward to further engagement during the debates on Committee and Report Stages. I hope Senators have seen, through my attendance in the House as the senior Minister in the Department, how seriously I take this issue. I thank my franchise team for the work they have done. We in this Government have done a lot on the issue of franchise. We have established the Electoral Commission on a statutory basis, a commitment that was in the programme for Government, and that will now stand for future generations. While some do not believe this reform goes far enough and I have listened to the debate, it is a significant step forward, and if Senators want to take a significant step forward together, I ask them not to oppose the Bill. I will look openly and constructively at amendments that are tabled. I assure the House of that. I have taken detailed notes of contributions made by colleagues during this debate and I will certainly reflect on them.