The nominated senators have formed a technical group and they are proposing a positive use of Seanad time which does more than talking about reform and concentrates on the issues and concerns of people.

In light of the commitment in the Programme for Government to overhaul the way politics and government works, Seanad Éireann recognises the need for change in how it conducts its business and agrees to:

-    put in place arrangements so that this House can engage directly with well informed citizens and residents from all walks of life whose experience and expertise can contribute to debates on issues of public importance thereby adding considerable value to our work as legislators;

-    invite to the floor of Seanad Éireann, on a case by case and ongoing basis, appropriate leaders and representatives of civic life who have a significant contribution to make to the deliberations of this House;   and

-    include in these arrangements the hosting of respectful North/South dialogue that consolidates the peace process in Northern Ireland, develops a peace dividend for all communities affected by the conflict, deepens cross-border relationships and promotes a shared approach to the significant centenaries that will arise in the next decade.

Jillian Van Turnhout, Eamonn Coghlan, Fiach MacConghail, Martin McAleese, Mary-Ann O’Brien, Marie-Louise O’Donnell, Katherine Zappone

As someone who wishes to see the Seanad reformed rather than scrapped it’s a very interesting idea and one way of making sure that the Oireachtas reaches out and that people take notice of the Seanad despite Enda’s and Eamon’s intentions.

The huge majority held by the Government and introverted move to remove and compact the Oireachtas committees means that parliamentarians may become isolated and uninformed.  (I’m being generous here!)  Also another concern is that the lobbying of parliamentarians will completely go behind closed doors if there are limited or no avenues within parliament for investigations and hearings on issues to take place.

On the matter of lobbying I wonder if we could get all TD’s and Senators to publish the visitors records for groups, delegations and meetings that they receive in Leinster House and their constituency?  Yes I know that pig is out there flying by my window again but maybe we could see some action on that as well as the reform of the Freedom of Information legislation.  Chop to it!

I’m not an expert in the matter of downloads and illegality but on what I have seen and read in recent years my opinion is that there are an awful lot of statistics made up and bandied around and rubbish spun on the matter by super groups and their gurus. The message is the end of the world is nigh! Apple are making billions out of Itunes, and recording artists are getting their cut, illegal downloads are a fraction of this and indeed those who share music are more likely to buy music then those who don’t. The implications of blocking the transmission of information go beyond music downloads, there are issues of free speech etc. which are not being heard or debated by our politicians.

A few days after this spotting the lobbyists at work I saw more evidence of their efforts in a comment raised in the Seanad by Senator Paschal Mooney. Senator Mooney who is known to be a friend of the music world was correcting himself on figures he was bandying around a few days earlier. Justin Mason had pointed out that the maths didn’t work on the number of illegal downloads of an Aslan album and Senator Mooney corrected the record.

There are lots of friends of the music industry in both houses, top of the list being leader of the Seanad, Donie Cassidy – so it was not long before a full debate on the issue of protecting intellectual property and copyright (sounds really important when it’s said like that) was organised in the Seanad. This took place yesterday and you can watch it back by clicking on this link to a video file. You can read the debate here

This debate is nearly all one way traffic with the music industry camped out inside Leinster House, music users who don’t agree have no lobbyists. Senator Brendan Ryan read the email sent to him by one constituent into the record to bring the other view, not that he really agreed with it but he did it anyway.

Some of the human rights, anti-spin and common sense issues raised in critiquing the IRMA campaign in recent years are to be found on Digital Rights Ireland’s site.

I would appreciate it if anyone who watches or reads yesterday’s debate could leave their comments or links to their own posts below – we could point some politicians to read them?

Some intriguing questions – Where was Shane Ross during the debate – ‘Business Regulation Expert’ too busy promoting the book? Or too wary of speaking in the house on the issue?  Why is Joe O’Toole of INTO and ICTU fame consistently voting with the Government on the issue? He thinks supporting NAMA is consistent with supporting social democracy according to Senator Alex White.

The Green Party contributions have been as numerous as in the lower house – ie. not a lot.

And then there’s been the tweeting Senators – this is now officially the the most tweeted event from members of the Oireachtas. Paschal Donohue,  Jerry Buttimer and sometimes even Dan Boyle are tweeting during the debate from the chamber – the heckles continue online and are captured in the Liveblog.

The debate in the Seanad has actually been of a high quality with speakers generally well prepared. And there has been a flock of ministers into bring the bill thorugh the house (Flock according to Frances Fitzgerald – whirlygig according to David Norris)

Hop over to the liveblog to have a look at the pictures, Duracell Bunnies and Ladybird books as well as the results and commentary as it happens.

Senator David Norris: The principal point I wish to raise is the question of what occurred in the Dáil yesterday and its impact on our legislative programme. The Labour Party put forward its Civil Unions Bill. I experienced a sense of déjà vu and great sadness. It is now four years since I put on the Order Paper of this House the Civil Partnership Bill. Had the Government acted then to support what is a reasonable measure which does not claim marriage, we would now have this law enacted.

The spectre of unconstitutionality has been raised, which is rubbish. Nobody really believes it. That is a creation of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, or as I prefer to call it, the Department of discrimination. The discrimination is emanating from that Department and, unfortunately, we have a decent man, who is well on the way to becoming the Minister for discrimination, in violation of the position adopted in this House by a former Fianna Fáil Minister and Deputy, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn. I recall her saying that she, as a Cabinet Minister, would require clear, cogent and factual reasons to introduce discrimination against a citizen.

I have listened to people in this House and in the other one compare the degree of recognition which I would get to somebody with a pet, to a couple of nuns and to a couple of elderly sisters. I repeat what I said yesterday that I am not prepared to accept a dog licence. I am not a second-class citizen, nor will I remain so.

An Cathaoirleach:Is the Senator calling for the introduction of the Bill?

Senator David Norris:I hold up a heavy weight of five folders each with individual sheets and each sheet containing an agonised plea to me about certain aspects of this Bill, especially about Irish citizens in relationships with non-EU citizens. I call on the Government to get off its backside and do something about it. I am not prepared to wait.

Will the Leader give Government time before Christmas to take the Civil Partnership Bill 2004 in my name? If we had done this in 2004, it could easily have been tested. There is a mechanism. We can refer a Bill to the Supreme Court. We are not concerned about constitutionality or protecting the family.

I greatly resent what the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, said in the Dáil yesterday that the constitutional aspect involved a possible attack on the family. I say very clearly to all my colleagues in this House that granting me a minimum amount of decency, which almost every other country in Europe has granted, cannot be constituted as an attack on the family. How dare anyone say that to a decent upright citizen such as me and the many thousands of gay people who have lived in servitude for the past 60 years, of which the republican party should be thoroughly ashamed.

and later… Senator John Hanafin from Fianna Fáil made his views known (what’s rare is not wonderful!) – and the repartee began. (One can see what Norris has to endure from time to time from the other side of the house.)

Senator John Hanafin: I support the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, in his decision to rule out gay marriage because it is in conflict with the Constitution and I look forward to the civil partnership Bill. I am reminded of a story told about Sir Thomas More, whose son constantly asked him to do something about a man with whom he had a problem. Sir Thomas More asked his son whether his problem was to do with something against the law of man or the law of God. His son replied it was against the law of God and Sir Thomas More advised him to let God deal with it. However, Sir Thomas More was subsequently asked to recognise the marriage of Henry VIII and therein lies the difference. We are being asked to recognise gay marriage, something I am not prepared to do. What people do in their own homes is one thing; I may not agree with it but that is their own business—-

Senator David Norris: How very generous of Senator Hanafin.

An Cathaoirleach: Senator Hanafin without interruption.

Senator John Hanafin: However, when I am asked to call it a marriage, that is something I am not prepared to do.

Senator David Norris: Nobody cares what Senator Hanafin calls it.

An Cathaoirleach: I ask Senator Norris to respect other speakers. He has already made his contributio

Senator David Norris: I am tired of being insulted in this House and having the tissue of religion used hypocritically to put me in a second class place and I am not a second class citizen in this country and I will not be a second class citizen. That is rubbish from Senator Hanafin. On the few occasions he speaks it is to blackguard people like me.

There were other expressions of support for civil unions during the order of business including one from Eoghan Harris which spoke in favour or marriage and marriage rights being given to same-sex couples.

Ah I might be out of the country visiting a city of many coffee shops, but one does not need to be partaking of the finest to realise there might be something up. Zigga zig ah! (I am on holidays…)

Rosaleen has been my best friend for I don’t know how long. We have been friends for at least 10 years anyway. As you might expect I’m endorsing her campaign publicly (never mind giving a hand with some campaigning) and if you have a vote in the forthcoming election or know somebody who has a vote please consider Rosaleen for a Number 1. To vote one must be a graduate of TCD, an Irish citizen and most importantly have your name on the electoral register. Votes are being distributed by registered post next week and must be returned by July 24th.

As you will see from her biography and manifesto, Rosaleen brings a very different perspective to Irish politics and her election would be historic for many reasons. So as the results of one election bring us nearer to a new government, canvassing and campaigning are well underway for the next. Even though the electorate in this case are most privileged in their suffrage, the message of her candidacy for those of us seen as other means an awful lot.