There are a number of points we would like to raise in terms of our submission and on which we would like to elaborate. We are here to represent the 20,000 or so graduates of DCU since 1983 when we began as a very small university. From an institute of technology, we have grown to a university which, come October, will have graduated 20,000 students. They are disenfranchised in relation to the seventh amendment of the Constitution passed on 5 July 1979 by more than 92.4% of the electorate, albeit on a very small turnout of 28% or so, which allowed graduates of universities and other institutes of higher education to have a vote on the University Panel.
We are fully supportive of the idea of university Senators and a university panel. We suggest that this panel should consist of a single six seat constituency which would allow for graduates of all universities and institutes of technology. The previous speaker from Trinity College alluded to the fact, as did the delegation from the Dublin Institute of Technology, that some graduates of the Dublin Institute of Technology whose degrees are validated by the University of Dublin have votes.
There are certain anomalies within the system that we think are pretty unjust in relation to our students. For example, with the problems of the register, some can have two votes. They can have an undergraduate degree from University College Cork and an MA from Trinity College which means they have two votes in the election. A person can have an MA from DCU and a BA from the University of Limerick or one of the institutes of technology and have no vote. We think there is no justification for this given the fact that the seventh amendment was passed. It is our view that it subverts the will of the people. It would be analogous to the divorce referendum being carried in 1995 and divorce not being allowed until 2018. That would be our perspective.
We view university Senators as being a great addition to the Seanad. There has been no Seanad in the history of the State that has not had an independent Senator and they have made huge contributions over the years, both from the NUI and Trinity College. I do not have to give the names; everyone knows them. We consider that university Senators are a good idea and that votes for graduates - I speak for my graduates of Dublin City University - would only enhance the capability and quality of the election. On that note, I will pass to my colleague.