THERE ARE divided views at senior levels within both Fianna Fáil and the Green Party about the feasibility of a referendum on the Seanad being held on the same day as the election.
Green Party leader John Gormley appeared to downplay the possibility of a referendum yesterday when he described the idea as “extremely ambitious”. While not ruling it out, he said it would be difficult to achieve the goal within the short period available.
“A referendum on Seanad Éireann would be a complex piece of legislation. We would also have to put a referendum commission in place. When you look at all the variables, it is extremely ambitious,” he said.
Mr Gormley said he was not ruling it out but no formal Government decision had yet been taken.
However, his party colleague, Minister of State Ciarán Cuffe said he believed legislation could be “squeezed through” to allow for a referendum on the abolition of the Upper House in the spring.
“My view is that you either abolish the Upper House or dramatically reform it. If that can be done sooner, I’d like to see it happen.”
The Fianna Fáil Minister Batt O’Keeffe said it was possible a referendum on the abolition of the Seanad could take place on the same day as the election.
The matter had been discussed briefly at Cabinet level but no decision had yet been taken, he said, adding that the matter was not high on the Government’s agenda.
Another senior Minister, speaking on the basis of anonymity, said he thought it was very unlikely that a referendum could be held. “To be honest about it I don’t think there is a chance that it will be ready in time for the election,” said the Minister.
Seanad leader Donie Cassidy said reform of the entire Oireachtas was necessary but the Seanad was a soft target for populist policies and abolishing it made no sense.
He was supported in that view by the Sligo Senator Geraldine Feeney and Westmeath-based Camillus Glynn, who described the current mood to abolish the Upper House as a “kneejerk reaction”. Mr Cassidy, also based in Westmeath, said a lot of the valuable work done by the Seanad was not acknowledged by the media or communicated to the public.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said the idea that it could be done in tandem with a general election was just an excuse for Fianna Fáil to delay holding the election. The legislation to back a referendum must be enacted at least 30 days before the referendum is held.
The amendment would involve the excision of Article 18 of the Constitution and changes to at least 60 other sections, all of which refer to the Upper House.
While the power to set up a referendum commission – which ensures the public is adequately informed – is at the discretion of the Minister for the Environment, it is unlikely that the Minister would refuse to set up such a commission. No minimum time period is set out for the commission to complete its work but sources familiar with previous referenda said a commission would need at least a month to carry out its mandate.