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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Seanad reform and defibrillators

Summary

Senator Quinn urges the Taoiseach to advance one-person-one-vote Seanad reform and also raises the delayed defibrillators Bill.

I support Senator Crown's call for a debate on the Government move for Seanad reform - the supposed reform. The suggestion is also supported by Senator O'Donovan. This is the opportunity for the Taoiseach to come to the House and to say that as the Taoiseach he can make the difference by doing what has not been done before.

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However, all he is doing is putting into operation something that we, the people of Ireland, agreed to in 1979. Therefore, much more could be done. One person, one vote, should be the future for Seanad elections. It can be done easily. Senators Crown and Zappone have proposed Bills which allow for this change. We must urge the Taoiseach to proceed in this area and this is the ideal opportunity to do so. The subject was raised yesterday in the other House and it also reached the Cabinet.

I refer to a Bill on the provision of defibrillators in busy places which has been adjourned. This week a Bill was passed in Manitoba on the same matter. They have looked at what we planned to do here but they have put it into law. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Health to come to the House. He did not seem to have any objection to the Bill but it has been put on the long finger, as are so many other things. Let us get that finger moving.

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