asked the Minister for Local Government when he will be in a position to introduce the necessary legislation for the alteration of the present electoral system to the Seanad.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Seanad Electoral System.
27.
I am not yet in a position to say when any legislative proposals on this matter will be introduced.
Since the Government have made such strong efforts to change the electoral system, would the Minister, as he is an authority on this matter, not introduce the necessary legislation in regard to the alteration of the present Seanad electoral system? Further, is there any hope that any proposed legislation will be before the House early in the New Year?
I do not agree that I have been lethargic in this matter. I would bring it to the Deputy's attention that, apart from his questions and questions from each of two other Deputies in this House, and one letter from a member of the general public, nobody has really shown any interest in this matter since the commission reported.
The fact that questions have been asked here should be sufficient to assure the Minister that it is a matter of public interest. The fact that the former Taoiseach set up a commission to inquire would appear to me to be reasonable justification, if the Minister requires it, and should satisfy him, that the matter is one of serious public importance. May I ask the Minister is it likely that legislation will be introduced in the New Year?
In reply to the Deputy the commission have reported but, in a matter such as this, that report should, I think, be allowed to circulate around and percolate into the minds of the general public before any question of amending legislation comes before the House. If that is not a valid reason in the Deputy's mind for refraining from introducing legislation in the very near future, I would refer him to the fact that on 13th October of this year a motion was tabled by Senator Stanford for discussion in the Seanad advocating that the recommendations of the commission should be implemented by legislation. I rather think that the introduction of legislative proposals would be, to say the least of it, unfair to the Seanad before they have had an opportunity of discussing the matter.
It is very admirable that the Minister should be showing this new punctilio so far as the Seanad is concerned, remembering that a motion had to be tabled in the Seanad asking that Ministers would attend the Seanad.
That does not arise.
Arising further out of the Minister's reply, might I ask him whether or not it is the intention to have the next Seanad elected under the new electoral system?
That is a separate question.