I join colleagues in expressing sincere sympathy to Kathleen Carty and her family on the death of John. Earlier comments were made about his public service as an agricultural officer and, interestingly, he spent some of that time in my home town of Drumshambo, County Leitrim, albeit before my time. He often spoke about that time with great affection. I would like to be associated with the remarks made.

I would also like to be associated with the remarks of Senator Sean D. Barrett and, more pertinently, those of Senator Ned O'Sullivan in the context of hastening slowly on Seanad reform. I agree with Senator Ned O'Sullivan's analysis that there no evidence whatsoever to suggest the people, in their wisdom, when they voted to retain the Seanad, did so for any one reason, but it seems the media and some other elements have taken it on themselves to interpret the result as meaning that there had to be urgent reform. I believe it will be very difficult to engage in the type of reform proposals being suggested, for example, in the context of the panels. Having listened to the Minister of State's reply to the debate yesterday evening, it seems the Government is not keen on the idea of the universal franchise either because he pointed to the cost involved. It costs €5.25 to send each ballot paper under the current university franchise system and if that were to be multiplied into millions of euro, the inference was that this would be a costly and prohibitive exercise. I agree with Senator Ned O'Sullivan that one should hasten slowly in regard to reform. There are many reform initiatives that have been initiated by the Leader that have been welcomed. That is the road to go within the current framework of trying to expand the role of the Seanad without further referendums or legislation. There are many opportunities to do so.

I would also like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the wife of John Carty, Kathleen, and her family. I served in the House and on Mayo County Council with him and he was an absolute thorough gentleman. While we will have further expressions of sympathy in the House at a later date, I would like to be associated with the vote of sympathy to his family and to the family of former Deputy Ted Nealon on his passing, as well as to Deputy Michael McGrath on the death of his brother.