Reforming the Seanad – the radical way

The Government should learn from its defeat in the referendum and consider the possibility of radical Seanad reform. Annoyance at being politically thwarted is an understandable reaction, but pique should not dictate official policy or negate the wishes of the electorate. All parties agree that the Seanad, as presently constituted, is both elitist and wasteful. A suite of reforms is required from Government that goes beyond giving effect to a referendum on university franchise that was passed 35 years ago.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny went to the Upper House last October “to listen to ideas on reform”. On the basis of Government briefings since then, however, it would appear that minimal change is envisaged. Such an approach gives politics a bad name. People would welcome effective reform.

Rather than produce limited legislation dealing with university seats, the Government should adopt a more ambitious approach; engage with the broader electorate and identify specific responsibilities for the Upper House. Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin and Democracy Matters, a reform group composed of senators, believe that such changes would not require a referendum and can be facilitated through legislation.

Under their proposals, 43 senators would be chosen by the general public; by people in Northern Ireland who qualify for Irish citizenship and by expatriate holders of Irish passports. Currently, that electorate is confined to Oireachtas members and local councillors. All third level graduates would be entitled to select six representatives and the Taoiseach would continue to appoint eleven members.

It has been suggested that the Seanad should be given special responsibility to scrutinise and develop EU legislation. These ideas represent fundamental change and would require careful scrutiny on Constitutional and practical grounds. Rather than persist with a failed and discredited system, however, the Government should adopt a more flexible approach.