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

We had a good Second Stage debate. I reiterate that what is being proposed and brought forward by the Government in this Bill is the most significant reform of Seanad Eireann in decades. For some, it might not go far enough but it is also a response to the Supreme Court judgment. I have supported the Seanad and I campaigned against its abolition. I believe in Seanad reform. However, to speak to Senator Clonan’s point, we have to be aware of the timeframes that remain in the context of the lifetime of this Oireachtas. That does not in any way, shape or form stop any future Government from building on the reforms and the extensive expansion of the franchise when this legislation passes.

The expansion of the franchise comes under section 3 and also strays into section 7, which extends the constituency beyond the designated institutions. I will deal with section 3 first. I do not rule amendments out of order. The Senators know it is not down to me and I have no input into that. If we look at the current position, there are 177,000 people on the registers for the NUI and Trinity constituencies. The census data from 2022 indicates there are over 900,000 Irish citizens living in Ireland who have completed an ordinary bachelor's degree or higher. While not all of these will immediately be included through the designated institutions, there are also a good number of graduates outside the State who will become eligible. Therefore, we are going to see a significant increase in the register of electors.

As Senator Clonan said, it will be one of the largest constituencies, certainly on the scale of a large European constituency, although not that of the constituency for a presidential election. I believe we have to build that on a staged basis, to be frank, and we have to build the infrastructure to be able to do that. We have spoken about the registration authorities and the challenges there will be with the electoral register itself. There is not a lot of time to do this. Even though it will be for the Seanad election after next, there is not a lot of time to get this right. On Second Stage, I responded to Senators regarding how we would go about preparing the register of electors and letting people know that the franchise has been extended, which is important.

I will refer to one of the many items of legislation that we passed in the Seanad that also did not have the assent of the whole House. Senators can go back and check the record to see who voted for it. The Electoral (Amendment) Act established an Electoral Commission on a permanent basis. It provides the perfect vehicle for further review and proposed reform, not just of this institution but of others. For the first time ever, we have a permanent Electoral Commission in place that is fully staffed, with a chief executive, a chairperson and a board. That was another very significant electoral reform that this Government brought in and it was not supported by everyone in the House. With regard to the expansion of the franchise around qualifications beyond that of at least bachelor's degree level and also of including more institutions, the role of the Electoral Commission in its post-electoral event reviews, which already cover Seanad elections, and its role regarding the Seanad register and its processes, will support this further consideration and ensure that what we are doing in this Bill can be appropriately built on in the future.

Most of the Members present today were here for Second Stage. I spoke of the programme for government and what was within my remit to deliver. There was no agreement in the current programme for government, Our Shared Future, to further expand the reform of the Seanad. Nonetheless, the reform in this legislation is the most significant reform of the Seanad in decades. I would say to Members who are looking at this - I am being constructive and it is not a criticism in any way, shape or form - that if they want to reform the Seanad, they must vote for this legislation. We can build on that change in the next Oireachtas because we have the architecture in place to ensure that happens, in particular the Electoral Commission.

The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, will be taking over from me for about 15 minutes. I will be back after that. I will conclude on this point. With regard to future designations through the HEA Act, as referenced by Senator Malcolm Byrne, 16 institutions are currently designated under the HEA Act, which provides a pathway for further institutions to apply for designation. The point the Senator made, which is valid, is that within the parent Department, that has not been set forward yet. Nonetheless, the Act permits for that to happen and for further designations. Therefore, other education providers may be designated following an application for designation if they meet certain conditions following an assessment process undertaken by the Higher Education Authority. The conditions and designations will be made by regulation by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. I understand work has been begun by the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, and, again, the architecture is there for that to happen. That work is under way. It will allow for the further designation of other higher education institutions that are not currently designated, although that is not within my gift.