Fianna Fáil has proposed the leader of the Seanad should be given the right to attend Cabinet meetings.
The proposal is contained in a submission made by the party to the Subcommittee on Seanad Reform this morning.
The party suggests making the Seanad leader a Minister of State with the right to attend Cabinet meetings, a practice that saw the former PD Minister of State, Ms Liz O'Donnell, sit at the table.
Fianna Fáil points out that the Constitution permits up to two ministerial appointments to be made from the Seanad - "a provision that has rarely been availed of".
Fianna Fáil says the Seanad has functioned well as part of the State's parliamentary system. However, it makes a number of other proposals for change. These include a recommendation that the list of bodies who can nominate senators be extended to include Irish emigrant groups in Britain, the United States and Australia.
Fianna Fáil also proposes the creation of a "unified panel" of six university seats, in which the electorate would all be graduates from recognised third level colleges.
In addition, the party suggests that an additional five Seanad seats be created to provide representation from Northern Ireland "of a cross-community character".
Fianna Fáil also says the political parties "should have regard in their nominations to the need to improve gender balance".
The subcommittee has been hearing submissions throughout the week on proposals to reform the Seanad.