Micheal Martin has been wrong-footed by Sinn Fein and harassed by his own parliamentary party over the Seanad referendum. Under internal pressure, he ignored a previous government decision to abolish the Upper House so as to compete with Sinn Fein on the opposition benches. Having made the slow, tactical transition to a "no" vote position, however, he was left exposed when Sinn Fein announced it would support the referendum. As with rejection of his support for the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill by a majority of his colleagues, it was trouble Mr Martin could do without.
The sudden and unexpected shift in Sinn Fein's position was clearly designed to expose Fianna Fail as the lone champion of an unpopular and dysfunctional Upper House. The party had consistently criticised the Government for failing to refer the matter of abolition to the constitutional convention and there was a general expectation Sinn Fein would oppose the referendum. That all changed last month when Pearse Doherty announced that, faced with the choice of keeping the Seanad as it stood, or abolishing it, Sinn Fein believed it should go.
Mr Martin's weakened position was emphasised by his adoption of a Seanad Reform Bill, introduced by Independent senators Feargal Quinn and Katherine Zappone, as effective Fianna Fail policy. If the referendum was defeated, he said, Fianna Fail would support the implementation of legislation contained in the Bill. In view of the party's dismal record on Seanad reform and the Government's determination not to grant it additional powers, it was a risible undertaking.
While the opposition parties engaged in tactical skirmishing, the Government failed to specify how, precisely, the role of the Dail will be strengthened. Taoiseach Enda Kenny did suggest an additional sitting day a week and longer debates. The inadequacy of such a proposal, as an antidote to the gross imbalance that exists between the Executive and parliament, suggests he has given no serious thought to the problem. Detailed proposals on how the role of the Dail can be enhanced should be published before the October referendum.
There is general acceptance of the need for meaningful political reform. Abolishing the Seanad may save money and act as a sop to public anger, but it will fail that test. Government backbenchers reflect growing frustration with the limited role of TDs. If Mr Kenny does not offer them work satisfaction then Mr Martin will. The Fianna Fail leader has promised to publish a list of seventy proposals on how parliament can be made more relevant and independent of government. That should make an important contribution to debate on how political life can be restructured. It may also allow Mr Martin present himself as the leader of a progressive party.