OPINION:Abolish the Seanad? Yes but its not a new idea and real political reform needs to start with the Constitution, writes FIONA O'MALLEY
Your representative owes you not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion
– Edmund Burke
ENDA KENNY has done it again. In his “brave” attempt to show leadership, he has overshot the bandwagon of populism and shown himself to be a loose cannon; a man Hardly a quality that recommends itself to the high office he seeks.
It is said that the greatest from of flattery is imitation. There are many members of the Progressive Democrats who will be amused at the description of the Fine Gael leader’s most recent policy on Seanad Éireann as radical and new. It is, in fact, one that is nearly 25 years old.
The PDs as part of our desire to radically overhaul Irish politics, first advocated the abolition of the Seanad in 1986. The suggestion at the time was met with intense opposition, a fair measure of which came from Fine Gael. In his enthusiasm or necessity for a good headline, Kenny unwisely cast aside proper preparation of the idea. Had he done so he would have found matters a little more complex than he thought, and he would not have left his parliamentary party in difficulty.
Before the Progressive Democrats adopted the policy of Seanad abolition, the matter was carefully examined by the party. As a new party on the political scene we were unencumbered by tradition, we were free to think the politically unthinkable.
Careful analysis of the work of the Seanad was done. What unique function did it perform which could justify its continued existence? What did it add to the body politic?
It became apparent that representative democracy in Ireland could withstand the abolition of a second chamber as is the case in many small countries. An eminent constitutional expert advised that, with over 100 references in the Constitution to Seanad Éireann it would be next to impossible to put the matter to a simple question in a constitutional referendum. This led the party on to another task; reform of the Constitution.
To Kenny I would say there is huge scope to “change the way politics are done” if we were to embrace constitutional reform. Our current Constitution is unnecessarily prolix and rooted in the social and religious traditions of the 1930s.
A simpler document which proclaims truly fundamental rights such as justice and equality and leaves out temporary prejudices aside is right for our times now.
There is no need for the composition and voting system of our parliamentary democracy to be enshrined in detail in a constitutional document. It’s just what we’re used to. This is where Kenny could usefully apply his reforming zeal.
Now more than ever do we need to adopt an electoral system which responds to the needs of our country. We all know how bad the next budget will be. The sums don’t add up so drastic measures are called for. But these sums remain the same no matter who is in government. The remedy to our financial ills remains the same. Yet Government TDs will come under ferocious pressure as Opposition colleagues decry every cut and cost that has to be administered. As if they would be doing any different in government. Opportunism is readily rewarded.
Stephen Collins noted this in his Inside Politics column (Self interest has brought us to this sorry pass; Opinion and Analysis, October 3rd) when he wrote: “For many TDs their first loyalty is to their own seats.”
As they prepare the budget, the Government will be cognisant of TDs sizing up whether to jettison the party and disavow harsh cuts in an attempt to salvage their own seats.
It is extremely difficult to govern appropriately in these circumstances. This is why I have come around to the idea that we need a list system of representation in this country. We need to remove the direct “cause and effect” personal relationship which currently exists in Irish politics, which is so heavily personalised.
A more professional, policy focused on national politics would emerge and you would draw a wider range of people into politics. That, surely, would be to the benefit of the whole country. Fianna Fáil Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey spoke on Sunday of a more fundamental reform that needs to take place in our political system, including at local government level. I think he is right.
An attempt to get TDs to concentrate on national issues by banning them from local councils has not worked. Our system operates excessively to the adage that all politics is local. The introduction of a list system to a unicameral parliament coupled with real local government reform will ensure that Irish citizens have a representative democracy which serves them locally and a system of election to the Dáil which requires members to act primarily in the national interest.
Kenny has served to open up a discussion on the merits of our political system, but he will need to come much better prepared than this. He has exposed himself as a politician prepared to adopt unformulated policy in a knee-jerk reaction in pursuit of a quick headline.
He may have got the headline but at what price to his credibility?
Senator Fiona O’Malley was a Progressive Democrat TD for Dún Laoghaire from 2002 to 2007. She lost her seat and was nominated to the Seanad by then taoiseach Bertie Ahern