THE INCOMING Seanad may sit for four days a week rather than three, under reforms to be introduced by its new leader Senator Maurice Cummins.
The previous Seanad sat on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and usually adjourned early on Thursday afternoons.
Mr Cummins, a Fine Gael Senator since 2002, said yesterday he would make a statement when the new Seanad sits for the second time on Wednesday, outlining a number of procedural reforms.
“We will meet every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and on Friday, if necessary,” he added.
Mr Cummins, who was elected leader last week, supported strong criticisms of how the new Seanad was conducting its business by several new Labour Senators yesterday.
He said the majority of the reports on Seanad reform over the years had dealt with the electoral system.
“I hope to change the way we do our business and use the expertise that is available,” he added.
Labour Senators John Whelan, John Gilroy, Lorraine Higgins and Jimmy Harte were highly critical of last Wednesday’s brief first sitting, a month after the Seanad election, and the decision to adjourn the House for a week.
They said that unless the Seanad reformed itself, people would be justified in voting for its abolition in the Government’s proposed referendum.
Mr Whelan said it was an honour to be a member of the Seanad and he wanted to it become a relevant institution. “There is a huge determination among Senators to make it count,’’ he said.
“However, we got off to a bad start last Wednesday, with long speeches similar to what you would hear at a poor county council meeting.”
Mr Whelan said it should not have taken a month for the new Seanad to meet and it should not have been adjourned for a week after last Wednesday’s sitting. “We should have dealt with other business after electing a Cathaoirleach,” he added.
“Instead, some Senators took the opportunity to waffle. I am not casting aspersions on anybody, but we are doomed if we continue like this.”
Mr Gilroy said that meeting for 2½ hours last Wednesday, four weeks after the election, would not inspire public confidence.
“Apart from David Norris, who made a good contribution, I thought there was a lot of pomposity and self-regarding nonsense in many of the contributions,” he added.
Ms Higgins said: “We must make the Seanad relevant to the people. I was surprised by the week-long adjournment and would not like to see it happening again.”
Mr Harte said: “County councils have their place, but this was the Seanad and it was more like a council meeting last Wednesday.”
Taoiseach Enda Kenny confirmed last Wednesday that the Government would hold a referendum to abolish the Seanad next year.
