Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree wholeheartedly with what Senator McDowell has just said. I agree as well that we have two excellent candidates before us and I am convinced that either of them would discharge the duties of Leas-Chathaoirleach not just with diligence and fairness but, indeed, with aplomb. I have no doubt as to the result of this vote today. I am not going to withhold my support from Senator Byrne on her successful and happy day, as I anticipate it will be. That in no sense takes from the regard I have for Senator Flynn or my conviction that she would do an excellent job.I agree with Senator McDowell, however, that it is simply wrong that we are put into this position and that this is yet another horse trading situation - not that there is much trading going on because one side has two thirds of the vote in the House. However, the use and involvement of the party whip in a decision like this signals the sheer disrespect the Government has for the Seanad and its particular potential to be a House where different voices and points of view are heard.

It was not that long ago that the people of Ireland were asked to give a judgment on whether the Seanad was needed in our country and whether it should continue to exist. They believed and said it should exist by a narrow enough majority. The consensus at that time, shared by the Government of that time, was that it was not a clear bill of health given by the public to the Seanad but that the vote of the public indicated the desire that the Seanad would continue, but that it would be reformed; certainly in its functions but also, I believe, in the manner of its selection. We will all have to account to the voters repeatedly over the next few years and the question will be put as to whether the Seanad makes a difference, is worth the expense and is worth keeping, particularly as we face into uncertain times. We will perhaps face into tougher financial times in the future and that question may well be put on the table again.

If one believes in democracy, one should believe in the potential of the Seanad to do something vital and indispensable for the legislative process. It is essential that the Government starts to engage with that fact. I urge Government Senators in particular to take that message on board in a serious way and to see that the Seanad cannot be about just nodding through what the Government wants. Those Senators have to stand up for the Seanad and its potential. If they do not, it may very well disappear in the future.

While I am not going to withhold my support from Senator Byrne today as I know her election is a foregone conclusion, I do have a lot of sympathy with what Senator McDowell has said. Like him, I am disgusted with the cynicism, the lip service that is given to the need for parliamentary reform and the disgraceful inaction that follows on from that. I hope we can see some change to that over the next couple of years.