Why we should Retain the Seanad.

[FrankSpeaks]

I think that we should retain the Seanad because I think it is essential that we have a house that can look at legislation in depth. In fact I would like to strengthen the powers of the house so that it can block legislation but not money bills.

I would like the house to be totally independent, that is no party whip can be imposed. I would allow parties but would disallow sanctions against members who vote against party lines.

I would retain a house of 60 senators but I would like each county to elect a member and I would like the balance of members to be elected from a country wide ballot. The house would have 6 year terms and remain in continuous operation (would not fall with the government) with 1/3 of the members up for reelection every 2 years.

I would give the house powers to compel the government to enact legislation not money bills and force it to hold referenda. I would give the house the power to interview those for top state jobs such as Garda Commissioner, Judges at all levels, Heads of Department, State Bodies etc from this it would draw up a short list from which the government must make the appointment.

I would allow the house to call in and question state appointed people about their running of the body in question.

[anarko]

id retain it as a shoting range

this debate is only here to distract us

[West-Cork]

Why is it a distraction? FF/FG/Lab have a referendum in their sights with FF suggesting it be on the same day as the GE.

[DownTheyGo]

id retain it as a shoting range

this debate is only here to distract us

[jetttxyz]

id retain it as a shoting range

this debate is only here to distract us

Too true!!
The likes of Ivor, failed candidates, those put to pasture, egotists, windbags et al ...'to keep a check on the Dail' !!!!!!!!!!

Silly season has started verrrrrry early!!

[Aristodemus]

we are a small country, we do not need a bicameral parliament

[Man on the ClaphamOmnibus]

I think that we should retain the Seanad because I think it is essential that we have a house that can look at legislation in depth. In fact I would like to strengthen the powers of the house so that it can block legislation but not money bills.

I would like the house to be totally independent, that is no party whip can be imposed. I would allow parties but would disallow sanctions against members who vote against party lines.

I would retain a house of 60 senators but I would like each county to elect a member and I would like the balance of members to be elected from a country wide ballot. The house would have 6 year terms and remain in continuous operation (would not fall with the government) with 1/3 of the members up for reelection every 2 years.

I would give the house powers to compel the government to enact legislation not money bills and force it to hold referenda. I would give the house the power to interview those for top state jobs such as Garda Commissioner, Judges at all levels, Heads of Department, State Bodies etc from this it would draw up a short list from which the government must make the appointment.

I would allow the house to call in and question state appointed people about their running of the body in question.

First of all the government doesn't enact legislation, the Oireachtas does.Secondly if the Seanad could compel the government to enact legislation, that would make them, in effect, the government.

[stanley]

When a two-bit broken down showband damager and declining airport retailer like Donie Cassidy can rise to be the ruling party's leader in the Seanad, something is very wrong.

He gets up on his hind legs to talk about the property crisis being over and value in the market when he is personally up to his oxters in debt on such developments gives a fair indication of what prlcks exist in that House.

Callelly continues to make a laugh of the system and rips it at every chance he gets and dares them to do anything about them, it is no coincidence both these arseholes are close, very close to Ahern.

[dalywise]

Why is it a distraction? FF/FG/Lab have a referendum in their sights with FF suggesting it be on the same day as the GE.

And there are two main reasons for this:

- a debate on the Seanad referendum will deflect from Fianna Fail's incompetence and corruption and the fact that FF has bankrupted the country and

- FF know that in the next Seanad they would have no more than 4 or 5 seats as they have so few councillors to elect them, and the Taoiseach's nominees wont be open to them. They would see the other parties with up to 55 Seanad members building future political bases from their Seanad seats (even if it were to be last Seanad ever).

Those are the sole reasons for Fianna Fail's new found interest in abolishing the Senate. What a cynical, corrupt collection of hoodlums.

[West-Cork]

Everyone happy with the way BL pushed through the banking legislation in December then? The OP does have a point worth considering.

(EDIT: agree with you dalywise - just thinking the system could be made stronger)