Seanad representation on health planning
Senator James Reilly argues that the Seanad’s extensive health expertise should be represented in long-term health-planning work and asks the Deputy Leader to arrange a meeting with the Minister before the recess.
It is difficult to understand the logic behind this when one of the purposes of the Seanad was to allow additional expertise and competences into the Oireachtas to inform and participate in debate. When I look around the Chamber, I find it unbelievable people with expertise such as Senator Frances Black in the area of addiction; Senator Collette Kelleher in the Alzheimer Society of Ireland; Senator Freeman from Pieta House with expertise in addressing the issue of suicide; Senator Colm Burke who has been a spokesperson on health for so long; Senator Keith Swanick who, as a doctor, has so much to offer; and Senator John Dolan who has spent a lifetime advocating for people with a disability are to be excluded from what should be a more inclusive and-----
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And many others besides. The bottom line is that there are 60 Members in this Chamber who have something to contribute. I know that we cannot all be on the committee, which is fair enough, but an arrangement needs to be put in place to deal with this matter.
Will the Deputy Leader arrange a meeting with the Minister to resolve this issue before the return of the House after the break? If the issue is not resolved, we will be sending the message that, rather than being more inclusive, the House is being exclusive. Rather than making the Seanad more relevant, it would be diminishing it.