Sir, – I refer to Thomas J Clark’s letter ( January 2nd). It is wrong to suggest that the Taoiseach is acting in accordance with the wishes of those who voted no to Seanad abolition. Those who opposed Seanad abolition, including Democracy Matters and Fianna Fáil, made reform a central part of their opposition platform. How can a Taoiseach who identified many of the flaws of the Seanad during the campaign now preside over that same flawed institution? Just as in the general election in 2011, the people did not vote for the status quo, they voted for change. – Yours, etc,
DANIEL GRIFFIN,
The Grove,
Dunboyne Castle,
Co Meath.
Due to a technical problem, the full text of Mr Griffin's letter did not appear in all editions on Saturday.
Sir, – Thomas J Clark states that “the Taoiseach is quite right to respect the will of the people” in relation to the recent referendum because there was no option to adapt the Seanad to our modern society.
The reason that no reform option exists is because Mr Kenny decided that he would appear to be proactive while at the same time silencing forever an institution that is often a hindrance to this Government.
The Irish people, in their wisdom, saw through his cynical attempt to reduce democracy.
If an option to overhaul the Upper House had appeared on the ballot paper, I would safely assume that this option would have been carried by a big majority.
The citizens chose to keep the Seanad in defiance of our “leaders” and not because it was what they desired.
Mr Clark can rest assured, though, that the people will appease their appetite for change at next year’s local and European elections. – Yours, etc,
THOMAS O’CONNOR,
Clonmacnoise Road,
Crumlin,
Dublin 12.
A chara, – Thomas J Clark is only partly correct. The people voted to retain the provisions of the Constitution relating to Seanad Éireann. This does not absolve the Oireachtas from its duty to order its affairs in such as way as to achieve the role granted by the people to it under the Constitution — to pass sound legislation to give effect to the will of the people. That this is apparently in the gift of the Taoiseach and his quadrumvirate – nowhere mentioned in the Constitution – goes some way to explaining why the seventh amendment extending university franchise to the Seanad, passed in 1979 by the people, is only now being considered for legislation.
There is much that could, with goodwill, be achieved in legislation to empower the Oireachtas to correctly fulfil its role to legislate and to hold the executive to account. – Is mise,
AONGHUS Ó hALMHAIN,
Páirc na Seilbhe,
Baile an Chinnéidigh,
Co Chill Mhantáin.