Senator Bacik calls for debate on the role of the Seanad in the Constitutional Convention

Order of Business.

Wednesday, 6 June 2012

Senator Ivana Bacik: I wish to congratulate everyone involved in carrying the Olympic torch through the streets of Dublin today. I had the privilege of watching it going down Clanbrassil Street through the south east inner city. It was a moving ceremony in both senses of the word because it moved very fast through the city. It was also moving to see children and adults turning out in large numbers to watch it go by.

I also wish to send best wishes to the 120,000 sitting the junior and leaving certificate examinations today. We all wish them well.

I join with Senator O'Brien in welcoming the result of the referendum last Thursday. All of us who were canvassing on the ground were quite worried and concerned about the possible result, but in the end it was more decisive than some of us had anticipated. We certainly heard a good deal of frustration on the ground but also an acceptance that this was the better option and that, in particular, access to the ESM was essential to help this country in its recovery.

I support Senator O'Brien in calling for a debate on the aftermath of the referendum and looking ahead to where we go from here. We might debate two issues, perhaps without a Minister. The first is the need to pursue the growth agenda and support President Hollande's efforts to try to ensure there is a growth package at EU level alongside the fiscal stability treaty. Second, we should see some way forward in the settlement of the bank debt, which is the big issue. I know negotiations are ongoing but we could usefully debate that in the aftermath of the referendum.

I ask the Leader for a debate on the role of the Seanad in the constitutional convention. I welcome today's announcement that the convention has been established and that it will be proceeding along the lines the Labour Party has proposed - that we will see a two-thirds and one-third split between members of the public and elected representatives. It needs a tight timeframe for it to be effective. It would be welcome to see more contentious issues taken on alongside the first two issues in the first stage of the convention. We might well debate the Seanad's role in examining constitutional change and the work the constitutional convention will do.