Politics

Poll of the Day: What do you think should happen to the Seanad?

As deadline for voting nears, discussion around abolishment and reformation arises

In our poll, 61 per cent of respondents backed Seanad reform, 36 suggested abolition, and 3 per cent said it should remain as is. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
In our poll, 61 per cent of respondents backed Seanad reform, 36 suggested abolition, and 3 per cent said it should remain as is. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Mon Apr 18 2016 - 17:45

The Irish Times Poll of the Day aims to get an overview of readers’ opinions on current events. Today’s poll ran until 5.30pm, after which the results were published below.

Today’s question: What do you think should happen to the Seanad?

Readers voted for either: A) It should be abolished; B) It should be reformed; C) It should remain in its current state.

In the event, 61 per cent of respondents backed reform, 36 suggested abolition, and 3 per cent said it should remain as is.

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As the Seanad voting deadline approaches, it has emerged that three of the 13 former TDs who lost their Dáil seats and are running for the Seanad spoke in favour of its abolition during the referendum campaign, a position the electorate rejected.

In 2010, Fine Gael held a referendum to abolish the Seanad should the party remain in power, which was rejected. A number of other TDs and Senators spoke against abolition at the time, but followed party policy to vote for the Bill providing for the referendum to take place.

Issues surrounding the voting process in the Seanad have again arisen, including the registering of postal votes and the criteria for university votes.

All Trinity College Dublin and National University of Ireland graduates are entitled to vote, whether living in Ireland or abroad.

As university candidates watch the rising number of registered postal ballots being returned undelivered, there are increased calls for the implementation of changes recommended in the 2015 report on Seanad reform chaired by NUI chancellor Maurice Manning.

These include a move to online registration and voting and legislation to implement the right granted in a 1979 referendum to give the vote to graduates of non-traditional universities.