HALF OF the State's senators should be women, a quarter should be directly elected, and their role should be significantly changed, according to a report from the Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution.
The report on the Seanad, published yesterday, concludes that "on balance" the upper house of the Oireachtas should continue to exist. But, according to the committee's chairman, Mr Jim O'Keeffe TD, "a fresh innovative approach needs to be taken to what the Seanad should do and who the senators should be.
"The committee concluded that the proper function of the Seanad is to act as a consultative body where people with knowledge, experience and judgment over the whole spectrum of public affairs should be available in a broadly nonpartisan way to help the Dail carry out its functions more effectively and more efficiently."
In this new consultative role, Mr O'Keeffe said, the Seanad could take on a larger amount of legislative work, therefore increasing the productivity of the legislative process. It could also scrutinise EU legislation, regulations and directives, have MEPs take part in debates in the House, and invite EU Commissioners and officials for discussions.
The Seanad could also examine statutory instruments specific regulations made by minister's under powers granted to them by various Acts as Dail deputies are unable to do this properly because of time constraints. It could review government programmes, debate policy reports, and maintain a focus on relationships with Northern Ireland.
The committee proposes that total membership of the Seanad remain at 60, but that the method of their election be significantly changed. Fifteen members should be directly elected from the European Parliament constituencies, it says. Fourteen should be elected by the incoming Dail; 14 by members of local authorities; six by third level institutions; and 11 should continue to be nominated by the Taoiseach.
Mr O'Keeffe said there was a general acceptance that the present allocation of three seats to Dublin University and three to the National University of Ireland was unacceptable. The report proposes that these institutions elect just one senator each, while the other representatives come from other institutions covered by the Higher Education Authority and the National Council for Educational Awards.
Proposing that half of the senators should be women, the committee recommends that the election of senators by the Dail and local authorities be carried out on the basis of two subpanels: one for men and one for women. with an equal number elected from each. It also recommends that the Taoiseach should maintain gender balance in making his or her appointments, within 40 per cent to 60 per cent limits. Three of the Taoiseach's nominees should be representative of the various traditions in Northern Ireland.
The committee's recommendations follow its consideration of the report of the Constitution Review Group, which was set up by the Government to examine the Constitution. The committee report will be sent to the Government. Last week it published a report on other suggested changes in the Constitution.