SEANAD REPORT:EVERY INSTITUTION and organisation in modern Ireland would have to justify itself in the climate the State found itself in, former president Mary Robinson said.

There was a great deal more scrutiny and she believed it was good that there would be increasing accountability in this “participatory” age.

Mrs Robinson, a senator for 20 years, was addressing the House on its importance to her in influencing her career as a human rights activist. She said it might be a good thing that there was a question mark over the continued existence of the Seanad.

It meant that members were thinking about this in a way that every other institution in the State should be thinking about, whether it was responding to the needs of people in this age of participation.

She commended the current Seanad for attempting to make itself more relevant by engaging with civic groups, such as those advocating on behalf of the elderly. Her message was one of huge encouragement in setting this task for itself, whatever the future might hold.

Mrs Robinson, who was also a United Nations high commissioner for human rights, said she had been privileged as president to meet members of the Irish community abroad.

“One facet of the Irish community that I would meet that touched me deeply. . . are the priests and nuns who have spent 30 or 40 years in various countries.”

She recalled meeting such a group at a reception in Brazil and discovering that they were not partaking of various delicacies on offer. When she asked about this, she was told by members of religious orders present that as they were accustomed to working in poor areas, their stomachs could not absorb rich food.

Asked by David Norris (Ind) for her views on the treatment of gay people internationally, she said the UN had belatedly shown itself willing to appreciate work done elsewhere on a declaration in that regard. However it was also true that many countries on the African continent had been savage in the way they had addressed the issue of gay people. Despite this, she had been troubled by the notion of cutting off aid to countries with bad policies in this area.

“That’s actually not helpful at all, because it immediately evokes a kind of post-colonial relationship, and it actually has a counter impact.”

Thanking Mrs Robinson for her powerful advocacy in promoting human rights, Seanad deputy leader Ivana Bacik (Lab) said that just as her work continued to transform the human rights landscape internationally, she hoped that her inspirational example would greatly assist in attempts to transform the Seanad in terms of making it more accountable, more democratic and a more effective body.

“I very much hope that we will welcome you back to a truly reformed and transformed 25th Seanad at some time in the future.”

Several groups championing the rights of the elderly addressed the Seanad Public Consultation Committee. Veteran Labour member Michael O’Halloran, secretary of the Retired Workers at Ictu, said many older people were very active and they should be appreciated.

Some aspects of law, especially that concerning lunacy, were insulting to those of advanced years. The concept of autonomy was very important to older people. There was a need to look at the Law Reform Commission’s recommendations in this regard.

Mr O’Halloran stressed the need for a parliamentary chamber in which to ventilate issues concerning the elderly.