Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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979. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position in relation to the extension of voting rights for the NUI panel in Seanad Éireann elections to graduates of the new technological universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23785/19]

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for a Partnership Government includes an objective to pursue the implementation of the Manning Report, formally known as the Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform. That report makes recommendations to restructure and reform the Seanad, including implementation of the 1979 amendment of the constitution to extend the university franchise at Seanad elections to graduates of other institutions of higher education in the State.

In April 2018, the Taoiseach established an Implementation Group on Seanad Reform to consider the Manning report and to develop specific proposals to legislate for Seanad Reform.  The Group comprised Members of the Oireachtas with the assistance of outside experts, as appropriate. The Group's report, together with a draft Bill, was published in December 2018. 

The extension the university franchise at Seanad elections to graduates of other institutions of higher education in the State, is to be further considered in the context of consideration of the Group's report.