Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has to allow all college graduates to vote in Seanad elections; the college graduates who can vote; the reason all college graduates cannot vote; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25087/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to determine the extent of cross-party agreement on the recommendations of the April 2004 Report on Seanad Reform by the Seanad Sub-Committee on Seanad Reform, and to advance proposals for implementation. The Report on Seanad Reform sets out comprehensive recommendations for further consideration and action concerning the composition, functions and future role of Seanad Éireann. The Report recommends significant reform of the Seanad electoral system, including the introduction of a 6 seat, directly elected higher education constituency to include all graduates of institutions of higher education in the State holding a primary degree or an equivalent award at level 7 in the National Framework of Qualifications.

Currently, 3 of the Seanad University seats are elected by NUI graduates, the remaining 3 are elected by Trinity graduates. The 1979 Seventh Amendment to the Constitution provides the constitutional basis for the expansion of the higher education constituency, however this expansion has not occurred to date. I consider that Seanad reform should be advanced on the basis of an All-Party, consensus approach, insofar as possible. A first meeting of the All-Party Group on Seanad Reform was held on 18 June 2008. The aim of the Group is to establish, in a small number of meetings, the extent of cross-party agreement on the recommendations of the 2004 Report; I intend that reform efforts should include an initial focus on widening the third level franchise.