I wish to be associated with the sentiments expressed about the outgoing Taoiseach. It occurs to me that, although he has served 40 years in the Oireachtas, the Fine Gael Party Members in this Chamber must be in a state of sadness at the fact his term was cut short before he had the opportunity to deliver on the issue of Seanad reform-----

The Senator's crazy Bill.

-----something he promised most solemnly to do on the last occasion he was in the House. In that context, it is important that the Leader make arrangements for the outgoing Taoiseach's successor to come to the House and equally pledge to lead the Fine Gael Party Members in their ongoing campaign to reform the House to make it more democratic.

The Senator should go back and read his lunatic piece of legislation which he never even read before he presented it

The Senator will have his chance.

I also wish to address-----

The Senator is again anxious for the Seanad to be abolished.

Exactly.

We are all allowed to change our minds on that one.

We are.

I know that the Senator is anxious to continue.

Although we can be light-hearted about it, reform of the Seanad forms part of the programme for Government and is a commitment that must be delivered on. The Government made a solemn commitment to the people to implement the Manning report. We are waiting for it to deliver on it.

What people?

If it is the case that the change of personnel at the top of the Fine Gael Party in the other House will lead to the abandonment of that proposal, we should find out as soon as possible in order that we will be able to see how real the commitment was to implement what our former colleague in this House, Dr. Maurice Manning, had planned out for its reform. Of course, it is the case that Fine Gael Party Members of the Seanad are numb with grief that this commitment made by the outgoing Taoiseach has not been delivered on. I can see that their faces stricken with grief. Of course, it is also the case that we should have another opportunity to deal with the matter.

We might have that debate on another day.

Senator Michael McDowell does not have a majority.

The people will note what has happened and there will be a day of reckoning if the Leader does not-----

They do not even know that the Seanad exists. Its proceedings are never recorded anywhere.

Senator Michael McDowell is well over time.

It is amusing that Senator David Norris thinks the people do not even know that this House exists. As he well knows, they voted in a referendum to keep it.

I was very much involved in that campaign. You were losing it hand over fist until former Senator John Crown and I got in on the act.

They will not be happy to hear a eulogy on this House delivered either viva voce by the Senator or from the grave.

I am all in favour of real reform.

The people were not asked about reform.