The document that convinced Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny to change his mind on the future of the Seanad in 2009 was produced by an internal party policy review group chaired by Simon Coveney following research by a senior party adviser.

A group campaigning for the retention of the Seanad said yesterday it has written to the Taoiseach to ask him the circumstances surrounding his sudden volte face on the Seanad in 2009.

Mr Kenny addressed the MacGill Summer school in July that year and argued for reform but not abolition.

However, at the party’s presidential dinner in October only three months later, he made the impromptu announcement that he would make plans to abolish the Seanad if Fine Gael were elected to government.

A senior party source said yesterday that abolition of the Seanad was one of a number of options presented by Mr Coveney’s policy review group to Mr Kenny that autumn.

It is understood that an argument for its abolition was made by senior party adviser Sean Faughnan.