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Seanad
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Seanad reform

Summary

Senator Warfield argued that the Manning report’s legislative proposals should be advanced quickly, warning that failure to do so would be a missed opportunity for reform. The Leader replied that there was no unanimity and the matter needed further discussion.

The Minister will have no problem.

Comment on this

-----will proceed and will be delivered on. This is the reality. We have identified the projects which will be affected by the €100 million cut. They are clearly identified and they are set out in writing

Comment on this

The Government should name the projects. It should be upfront and honest and tell the truth.

Comment on this

Before Christmas, members of the Seanad reform implementation group published a report with legislation about how to give effect to the proposals in the Manning report. The legislation proposed alongside the report, if implemented, would mean a radical change in all of the elections that we face, and it would be a damning indictment of all Senators if we fail to commence that legislative process in reforming this House in this Government term. There is a clear appetite for reform. During Question Time last week, the Taoiseach indicated that not only had the Cabinet failed to discuss the report, but that he was not in favour of the proposals and then he failed to give a commitment about when the Seanad Bill would be brought forward. He also stated that Sinn Féin dissented on the report, which was not the case. Sinn Féin fully endorsed the report and we think it could go further. There was a general indifference from An Taoiseach when he was discussing the report and a lack of willingness to endorse the proposals and to bring them forward. I am reminded that yesterday the Leader accused Sinn Féin of having no sense of how to fix or solve anything and that we do not accept responsibility. No party engaged more in Seanad reform in the preparation of that Bill than Sinn Féin did so the Government should bring the Bill forward and we will see which parties are destructive. It will be those who oppose political reform-----

Comment on this

That is an easy one for the Senator. Take the free ball and run with it.

Comment on this

It will not be Sinn Féin.

Comment on this