Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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142. To ask the Taoiseach if he will bring forward proposals to reform Seanad Éireann. [3980/23]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The current 26^thSeanad has made good progress on Seanad reform. A number of measures have been put in place to give effect to the non-electoral recommendations arising from the Manning and McDowell reports on Seanad reform. These include the establishment last year of the Seanad Select Committee on the Scrutiny of Draft EU Statutory Instruments.

The Seanad has also put in place procedures to develop and strengthen the vocational nature of the Seanad. It has improved the way in which reports of Oireachtas Committees are dealt with, and it has also increased engagement with Ireland’s MEPs.

As the Seanad continues to advance the implementation of reforms and to play a valuable role in the legislative process, the Government currently has no immediate plans to bring forward further proposals in this regard.