Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 February 2005
88 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has proposals to amend legislation to include any bodies representing immigrant groups in the nomination process for Seanad elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3926/05]
View answerIn accordance with section 4 of the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947, the Clerk of Seanad Éireann is the returning officer for the Seanad. The arrangements for the establishment and maintenance by the returning officer of the register of nominating bodies are set out in Part 2 of that Act. The register is currently being revised for 2005 and the register as revised will be published later in the year. Copies of the current register are available from the returning officer.
The report on Seanad Reform by the Seanad Sub-Committee on Seanad Reform, published in April 2004, sets out a coherent and comprehensive package of recommendations for further consideration and action concerning the composition, functions and future role of Seanad Éireann. The report also includes proposals for new arrangements surrounding the nomination and election of senators, ranging from a radical reform of the vocational panel system to allow for broader enfranchisement, to the introduction of direct popular elections for some or all of the Seanad seats. The Seanad sub-committee considered the issue of immigrant representation in the context of multiculturalism and ethnicity in modern Ireland and recommended that the Taoiseach, when selecting nominees for the Seanad, should include people who can represent the interests and perspectives of immigrants.
These recommendations now require careful consideration. To this end, I have written to party leaders seeking nominations for an informal all-party parliamentary group, which I will chair, to determine the extent of cross party agreement on the recommendations and to advance, with consensus, proposals for implementation of Seanad reform.
