Madam, - It appears that the question of Northern Ireland representation in the Seanad has become part of a side deal between Sinn Féin and the Government.
When the Alliance party formally met the Seanad committee on reform, we supported developing a convention that the Taoiseach's senators should include a number of members from Northern Ireland, but we firmly opposed the idea of nominees from Northern parties. I asked whether the intention was to allow the Seanad to benefit from a variety of Northern voices or to allow the parties a direct say.
I believe the Seanad has benefited in the past from the contributions of people with a unionist background, such as Gordon Wilson and Sam McAughtry. However, it is most unlikely that either unionist party would make an official nomination.
If the Government persists with this proposal, it will offer seats to the two largest unionist parties and the two largest nationalist parties. It will ignore the growing centre ground, as represented by Alliance and others, and will, in turn, be ignored by unionists. There will, however, be an SDLP Senator and a Sinn Féin Senator.
My question will be answered: the Seanad does not want to hear a range of Northern voices, but to provide a platform for nationalists only. - Yours, etc.,
DAVID FORD, MLA, Leader, Alliance Party, Belfast 7.