Bunreacht and Seanad elections
Craughwell returned to Bunreacht na hÉireann and argued for a debate on Seanad elections and reform, insisting Senators are national rather than constituency politicians. The Chair interjected repeatedly to manage the heated exchanges, acknowledge his published articles, and bring the House back to order.
I have here Bunreacht na hÉireann-----
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Sorry, but Sinn Féin talking about someone being a disgrace-----
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I know Members are anticipating the referendum debate and the forthcoming local, European and potential general elections. They are all getting ready and are all in training but let Senator Craughwell, who, to be fair to him, has been very-----
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He has had something published and we are excited for him.
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I will not take any lectures-----
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I am not speaking to the Cathaoirleach but I will not take lectures from people who were terrorists on this island and who terrorised my mother and my father back in 1974. Do not give me any of that rubbish.
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Getting back to the Order of Business, Articles 18 and 19 of Bunreacht na hÉireann deal with the elections of the Seanad and I ask the Leader to organise a debate with the Minister on the next election for the Seanad. Every day, I sit in here and hear some small few colleagues talking about their constituency. We do not have a constituency. We are national politicians. This is a revising and reforming House and we do not have a geographical constituency. We need to get away from that. We are not even supposed to have clinics and offices but are supposed to be here reforming and revising legislation. Perhaps we could have a debate on that and perhaps we could close nominations to the Seanad on the same day that they close for the Dáil. I know that the Cathaoirleach will support that and I can see that already.
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I should not say this as Cathaoirleach but there are enough people hawking themselves around the country to all sorts of shindigs and gigs that they would want to have a look at this constituency initiative. I congratulate Senator Craughwell on his articles being published and I ask that the Senator might circulate them so that we can read them, please. It is always good to have Members of the House having articles published in different types of journals, whatever their views are.
I call Senator Davitt Davitt to speak now, please.