Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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87. To ask the Taoiseach if he has set up the all-party group on Seanad reform. [43634/17]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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88. To ask the Taoiseach the position regarding the commitment in his Department's statement of strategy on implementing the Manning report in full. [43635/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together.

In the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Government stated its commitment to pursuing the implementation of the Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform (the Manning Report).

That Report was published in 2015 and it is available on my Department's website.

One of the recommendations of the Report was the establishment of an Implementation Group to oversee implementation of the reforms contained in the Report.

As my predecessor previously said in the House, he agreed with a suggestion made here some time ago by Deputy Martin that this Group should be based in the Oireachtas and should comprise members of the Dáil and Seanad from all parties and groups, with access to independent expert advice as required. He wrote to Party Leaders in September last year seeking their agreement to this approach and their intention to participate. I have reviewed matters in this regard and am keen to progress matters and will contact Leaders shortly with a view to having the Group up and running as soon as possible.