I welcome Mr. Michael Maguire, representative of the Christian Solidarity Party, to this all-party committee examining reform of the Seanad and thank him for his submission. I understand another member of the party may join him later. We have read the submission. Perhaps you might provide the committee with a synopsis following which members may ask questions.
Presentation by the Christian Solidarity Party.
Witness: Mr. Michael Maguire.
Mr. Maguire
I did not prepare the submission the sub-committee received. The person responsible had to go away some months ago and has not yet returned. Perhaps committee members might consider the submission and ask questions.
The questioners will be Senators Ryan and Dardis.
I am interested in the proposal that vocational panels be restructured to provide for a family panel. Just as everybody is against sin, everybody in principle is in favour of solid families. Perhaps Mr. Maguire will elaborate on what his party means by "a family panel". Who would be elected from it and who would be eligible to run for it?
Mr. Maguire
The members of bodies such as parent associations would be eligible for election. The submission states those elected to the panel should be persons in receipt of children's allowance. We take the view that democracy should come first and that democracy is based on equality. Any person active in that field should be considered a suitable candidate. In the interests of democracy, I would leave it open to all those who wished to apply.
Would you leave the other panels as they are?
Mr. Maguire
We made recommendations on the other panels.
I have read the submission but must have missed that point. Would you object to single parents having a vote on the family panel?
Mr. Maguire
Single parents should have a vote on the family panel.
I ask these questions in order that we may understand your thinking on these issues.
Mr. Maguire
Yes.
The Christian Solidarity Party appears adamant that emigrants should not have a vote. One of the remarkable traits of Irish people is their desire to keep in contact with their extended families. My late uncle emigrated to New York in 1920. When I was old enough to be aware of his existence, around 1950 to 1955 he was still as much part of my father's family as those relatives who lived in County Tipperary. I am surprised at the Christian Solidarity Party's adamant belief such people should not be allowed to have a vote. Surely the Irish connection could override the taxation issue?
Mr. Maguire
The Senator is right in saying his uncle was a member of his extended family but he was not paying taxes in the State. Coming from the North, I understand the position very well. One would be faced with a total imbalance in that Unionists would be very selective in their voting and in ordinary circumstances would not vote at all because they would not wish to have anything to do with the State and Nationalists would be inclined to vote regularly.
I welcome Mr. Maguire and thank him for his attendance. The submission we received refers to the Seanad having a policy committee which would review public policy in European affairs and so on. There is widespread support for the view that the Seanad should give more consideration to European affairs. The Christian Solidarity Party suggests the Constitution should be amended to provide for the establishment and recognition of this committee. Why would it be necessary to change the Constitution given that several policy committees already exist? We have joint committees of the Dáil and Seanad and each Department is monitored by them. Why then would it be necessary to put something like that into the Constitution? Why not simply set up the committee without reference to the Constitution?
Mr. Maguire
It depends on what are the constitutional issues. Mr. Michael O'Brien and his brother, when preparing this submission, examined the Constitution in this regard and felt it would be necessary to do this. I imagine a committee could be set up without reference to the Constitution.
We do not think it would be necessary to do so. We do not object to the setting up of a committee but we do not feel a constitutional amendment to enshrine these matters would be required.
Mr. Maguire
That is fine if that is the case.
I am clear about Mr. Maguire's views on the family panel and of what it should comprise. It is stated in the submission that the electorate for the labour panel should be the trade union movement.
Mr. Maguire
Yes.
Does it follow that the agricultural panel should be elected by members of the Irish Farmers Association? The electorate for the various panels appears to comprise very exclusive groups.
Mr. Maguire
I know what the Senator means. I am sorry but I do not know what was in the minds of Mr. O'Brien and his brother when preparing this submission. However, the electorate referred to would be those primarily concerned in each particular area.
Is it Mr. Maguire's own view that the electorate to a panel should be composed of the people most closely associated with that panel?
Mr. Maguire
Being a democrat, my personal view is that all elections should be wide open.
We agree. Thank you.
Thank you indeed. I understand Mr. Maguire's difficulty as a result of his colleague being unable to attend. We thank him for coming and generously giving of his time.
Mr. Maguire
I thank the sub-committee members for their attention.
The witness withdrew.
Sitting suspended at 3.05 p.m. and resumed at 3.30 p.m.