POLL: Should the Seanad be abolished?

[David Cochrane]

So, it's worth a poll as the first post in this forum. A referendum is on the blocks in the coming months to ask the people whether they want to abolish the Seanad.

Do you think it should? And if not, why not?

[statsman]

I would favour reform rather than abolition. In our drive for 'greater efficiency' in the public sector, we from time to time risk throwing out the occasional baby with an admittedly large flood of bathwater. In my view, the safeguards provided by an effective second chamber would protect us to some degree from the kind of appaling decision-making that got us to where we are now. So don't abolish the Seanad; give it teeth.

[Tomas Mor]

It is no more than a creche or a retirement home. Sits very limited hours and really has no role.

[Deadlock]

No. it should be thoroughly reformed, elected by universal sufferage, and have oversight responsibility of the Dail, regional authorities and MEPs and EU commissioner. It should possibly also sit outside Dublin.

[Glucose]

No, IT SHOULD BE REFORMED.

[ibis]

No. it should be thoroughly reformed, elected by universal sufferage, and have oversight responsibility of the Dail, regional authorities and MEPs and EU commissioner. It should possibly also sit outside Dublin.

While I'd be very much in favour of a visible body with the permanent duty of providing oversight of EU affairs (as opposed to the Committee), the Seanad could not realistically provide oversight of "Ireland's Commissioner", because the Commissioner appointed by Ireland is not Ireland's, and is required not to be answerable to any national body or government. The Commission is answerable to the European Parliament, because the Commission is required to act in Europe's interests, not the interests of the country which appointed them.

Nor should a reformed Seanad have "oversight" over MEPs - they're elected themselves, and answerable at the ballot box to their constituents.

What would be more useful would be if the Seanad provided oversight of our government's actions in Europe, on the Council of Ministers and the European Council. That's the bit we're missing.

[TonyB]

The Oireachtas should be abolished. Government should be perpetual, run by civil servants, and headquartered in the Áras. Leinster House should become a multistory car park to alleviate parking congestion in central Dublin.

[Loaisman]

I too am in the reform camp. Give the Seanad real powers of inquiry and influence on legislation, rather than TD commitees. Have no party whip in there (a good idea for the Dail too, but slowly slowly catchee monkey on that).

Membership needs to be amended - away with the academic seats, but some directly elected members alongside appointees with expertise in relevent areas - business, foreign affairs, transport, social services etc - who can be critical without having issues over party loyalty. These would (unfortunately) probably have to be Dail nominated, potentially leading to such party issues arising, but we can hope......

There has to be proper checks and balances - the Dail alone, especially with the party whip in place, cannot be trusted to govern in the interests of the country - only of their re-election.

[constitutionus]

abolished.

they had DECADES to reform , produced reems of reports on the matter, and did ************************ all.

they had their chance and showed no impetus to actually follow through on their supposed desires.

so feck em.

abolish it and be done with it. its been worth feck all since de velara gutted it anyway.

[FrankSpeaks]

No. I have posted many times on this site why I think not. In fact I think it should have a greater role and have oversight on many aspects of the governance of our country.

This is what I said previously in this thread.

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.