The Parties Post-Senate Elections & Nominations

[pjb07]

what will the state of the parties be after the senate elections-

how big will the PD p.p. be?
can Labour - Green - Sinn Fein - Fine Gael make gains after a good local?
will Fianna Fail lose out ?
will the Socialists try their hand at it?
Independants how will they fare?

[livingstone]

I had a look at the figures from last time, and assumed* that FF lose 1 per panel and FG or Labour or Ind gain 1 per panel. If that happened, there would be 30 pro-govt senators, and 30 others, which includes 5 or 6 independents from the university panels.

Hung Seanad?


*very unscientific, I don't know if the local elections in 2004 would have made sufficient difference to cost FF seats.

[pjb07]

I had a look at the figures from last time, and assumed* that FF lose 1 per panel and FG or Labour or Ind gain 1 per panel. If that happened, there would be 30 pro-govt senators, and 30 others, which includes 5 or 6 independents from the university panels.

Hung Seanad?


*very unscientific, I don't know if the local elections in 2004 would have made sufficient difference to cost FF seats.

while assuming makes an
ass out of u and me

i agree it will be close very close[/b]

[UnholyApollo]

I know it may be slim but what happins if the govt only get a minority in the Seanad?? what effect would there be if any?

[pjb07]

I know it may be slim but what happins if the govt only get a minority in the Seanad?? what effect would there be if any?

it has a good chance but i would be unsure of the effects. anyone??

[Insider2007]

I know it may be slim but what happins if the govt only get a minority in the Seanad?? what effect would there be if any?

it has a good chance but i would be unsure of the effects. anyone??

Constitutionally the Senate has considerable, but unused, powers.

A majority of the Seanad, when joined by one-third of the Dáil, can petition the President to refer most bills (except certain types of bills, including Money Bills) to the people in a plebiscite. (If the President agrees, the bill is in effect put on hold for up to 18 months until the plebiscite takes place or a general election takes place in the meantime.)

It can petition the President to appoint a committee on privileges to solve a dispute between the Dáil and Seanad over whether a bill is a money bill or not. (The Seanad has restricted powers over money bills).

It can delay the enactment of a bill by ninety days.

It has other powers also.

[livingstone]

Would love to see a minority government presence in the Seanad, just so that it could be relevant. It has some great parliamentarians in there who are wasted in that they have so little relevance. Would be great to see what a Seanad acting as a proper check against the Dail would be like.

[AndrewM]

Anyone know what the nominating bodies are for the panel elections? The Dept of Envir website states that the webpage will be 'updated shortly'.

Well as long as there's no rush!

[seanad]

Nominating bodies listed here


http://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/pdfs/Ir230307.PDF