I support Senator Katherine Zappone’s call for the Leader to allow time for Committee Stage of her Bill on Seanad reform to be taken. As he knows, we passed the Bill on Second Stage way back in March last year. There was a referendum this week last year in which the people said they did not want to support the Government’s move to abolish the Seanad. Nothing has happened since that we know of. I know that the Taoiseach has said he has called together a few leaders of different groups to see what can be done. This is 12 months after the referendum. Members have often heard me argue before how frustrating it is to see the length of time it takes to get something done legislatively. Senator Katherine Zappone has proposed that the Leader find time to take Committee Stage of the Bill which she introduced over one year ago.

I urge the Leader to find time to do so because the people of Ireland have said they want to see a Seanad that works and that is capable of doing far more than it is being allowed to do. That probably requires the changes that she has proposed in her Bill, which I was happy to second. We should make these changes and I urge the Leader to arrange time for the taking of Committee Stage of the Bill in order that it can be before the House very shortly.