Picture from NIALL O LOUGHLIN
It is looking very likely that this election will be the last ever for the Seanad. Now the big question, should we actually get rid of it? Short answer at the moment is yes. The House has failed in its role. It is nothing more than a talking shop. Some legislation does originate their but that could just as easily have been originated by the larger house down the corridor. It is full of wannabe TD’s and retiring politicians who lost their seats but liked sitting about Leinster House.
I was always in favour of reforming it, but let’s see what the people want. It is about time a vote was taken on the issue. I do think that if there is a desire for an upper house then by all means reintroduce a reformed Seanad in 5 or 10 years’ time following the Constitutional Referendum or at election time but first chuck it out and see how we get on without it. Give stronger powers to the Dail Committees to balance any democratic deficit. Along with that give local government back some authority but ensure any power entrusted to them is still subordinate to Dail Eireann. Might not be a bad idea to allow Councils pass recommendations to the Dail that they could attach to specific Bills affecting the Councils area. An idea though that would need to be developed further.The Constitutional Convention expected next year should debate the issue of an Upper House as part of its overall agenda but be directed to not to take any decisions. Or worse still publish a report on it. We have had enough of them! The recommendations have been there on the issue of reform since DeValera first passed the 1936 Constitution. What we need is a decision. Annoying me at the moment is the Fianna Fail hacks jumping aboard the campaign to save the Seanad. Why with they in power for 14 years and the last major report published did they not decide to change it then? And wasn’t it DeValera who got rid of the Free State Senate when it disagreed with him.
In my view the date of the Presidential Election, a Friday in October, will play host to the Seanad Referendum too. Expect it to be a campaign issue of the Presidential Election as Norris, a hopeful (no nomination yet though) is a current Senator.
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