Senator bacik welcomes the Report of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on prayer and inclusion

Order of Business

Wednesday, 22 February 2012

Senator Ivana Bacik: I welcome the report of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on prayer and the fact that we will have a much more inclusive start to business every day with a few moments for silent reflection as well as a prayer. It was something that was adopted unanimously at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on foot of a suggestion from Senator Mullen and me. It is a sign that the House can be responsive and that we can work together to make changes in procedure. It is an important change that marks a spirit of inclusivity in our procedures.

I welcome the news that the constitutional convention is to be launched. Many of us had hoped it would be launched before now. However, it is welcome that it is being launched and it is also welcome that we will look at a wide range of issues relating to constitutional change. In particular, there is one area of constitutional change that is long overdue, for which I think there will be unanimous support, the deletion of the current phrase which recognises only women's place in the home and the duties of mothers in the home. Again, in a spirit of inclusivity we would all recognise that both parents have a place in the home and that in 2012 there should not be any reference to women having an exclusive role in the home. I am optimistic that will be one of the first changes the constitutional convention will recommend.

Some years ago an expert review group on the Constitution recommended a new provision on recognising the role of carers in the home which, I think, would be supported by everyone and would be an important change to make. I hope that is one of the first things the convention will do but, of course, there are many other important issues it will look at, including same sex marriage, voting age, length of the term of the President and so on. I would like if we in the Seanad could have a particular role in respect of the constitutional convention.