Yes, I can.

We had a good Second Stage debate. I reiterate that what is being proposed and brought forward by the Government in this Bill is the most significant reform of Seanad Éireann in decades. For some, it might not go far enough but it is also a response to the Supreme Court judgment. I have supported the Seanad and I campaigned against its abolition. I believe in Seanad reform. However, to speak to Senator Clonan’s point, we have to be aware of the timeframes that remain in the context of the lifetime of this Oireachta…

Senators have raised this issue which we have also discussed on Second Stage. I certainly will write to the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, engage with him and ask that he update the Seanad on the progress that has been made on the conditions of designation and where the draft regulations are. Senator Clonan has raised that, as have Senators Byrne and Higgins. We will respond through the Seanad Office. I will write formally to the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan.

I have addressed that. The Bill I have proposed and the extension of the franchise is as per the definitions in the Bill. I cannot extend that further at this stage. I have said I believe the Electoral Commission and, indeed, a future government, will be able to build on this most substantial reform of the Seanad and to build on the reform should this legislation pass. I think the Senators will see the urgency with which we have approached it. I thank the Seanad for enabling us to do that because I want to get this…

I will be back in. I promise. I thank the Senators for their co-operation. The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, is here and I will be back in about 15 or 20 minutes and I will be happy to address any further questions then, if that is okay.

I thank the Senator. First, there are no provisions here that would lead to a reduction in the franchise. This is about increasing the franchise. I will address the points the Senator raised.

I will address the subject of the register too. Senators have raised many times, both here and from my time in the Seanad, and still raise issues about the current register, its efficacy and how up to date it is. While it has improved, what the Senator is seeking is a wholesale transfer of that data from one register to the other. I will address that. I thank Senator Higgins and other Senators for bringing forward the amendments. I understand the intention of the amendment is to ensure the existing electors in NUI …

We have discussed this. The Senator and I are not going to agree on this at all. We are not removing anybody. We are actually informing people how they are going to register for a new constituency and register for what is effectively a new era in Seanad elections. We are going to back that up by writing to everyone on the register, having a public information campaign, getting data updated and all the various things. I do not want to repeat myself, because I know what the Senator said. She and I will not agree on t…

I thank the Senator. He raises a very good point. We have already gone through the details on the central registration authority and the ability it will have to share data for the new register. The point the Senator has raised about a data holder in Trinity being allowed to transfer their data across en masse without people assenting to that - although they will know about it - is a very good point. That could be problematic. In addition, there are people, whether we like it or not, who are on the register but do n…

This one is very important because it is a perfect opportunity for people once they have graduated to engage and be part of that. We will facilitate that and that will happen. When someone graduates, they will be asked whether they want to be added to the register at that stage. We will have their data, and they will be added. That is for the future, post-establishment of the new constituency. That will happen.

It is a great opportunity for candidates.

I thank Senators Higgins, Ruane, Black and Flynn for tabling amendments Nos. 32 and 33 and I thank Senator Byrne for his contribution. The amendments seek to amend section 24, which provides for the advisory committee to be in place to advise the chief registration officer on the performance of his or her functions under the Act, as outlined by Senator Byrne. The matter of appointing the ordinary members of the advisory committee is covered by section 24(5). Two persons shall be nominated by the Minister for Furthe…

I wish to be helpful. The priority is to ensure that the advisory committees give a voice to as broad a spectrum of opinion as possible. This is open to any Minister at a given time. If it were to come to pass that none of the designated institutions did this or it appeared that one part of the community was excluded, although I do not envisage that happening, both Ministers have two nominations each, so it can be rebalanced if that were required. However, I am confident that the provisions as proposed will allow f…

I thank the Senators for the amendment and their contributions. The amendment seeks to amend section 26, which provides for the role of An Coimisiún Toghcháin in regard to the register of electors, including the research it would undertake, and provides that it would make recommendations. It also provides for reporting requirements by the chief registration officer to An Coimisiún Toghcháin. The section requires An Coimisiún Toghcháin to publish a report within two years of the commencement of the legislation, base…

I will respond when we are discussing section 40.

I thank the Senators for the amendments and I think we have struck the right balance here. In summary, section 34 requires the nomination of a candidate to the higher education constituency to be either, as outlined in the Bill, assented to by 60 persons who are registered electors in that constituency or the payment of a deposit of €1,800. We have to value our electoral process too in the sense that we have people who are motivated to run and put their name forward because we want to have representatives here who …

I am pleased to bring the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024 before the House today. There are three main components in the Bill. First, it proposes a significant extension of the franchise for electing the six university members of Seanad Éireann to graduates of designated institutions of higher education in Ireland who are Irish citizens, have received a degree from a designated institution and are aged 18 years or more. Second, it amends the system for electing the six university members…

Coolly.

I campaigned against abolition.

I appreciate the contributions of Senators Malcolm Byrne, Tom Clonan, Maria Byrne, Rónán Mullen, Fintan Warfield, Michael McDowell and Alice-Mary Higgins. I have immense regard for Senator McDowell, as he knows. I should put on record that I campaigned against the abolition of this House in 2013 - the referendum was in October 2013 - and my party campaigned against its abolition. I know many Fine Gael Members also did so because they disagreed with the then Taoiseach and the job he wanted done. More importantly, th…