Sir, – I am sick and tired of reading letters to the effect that, if the Seanad were abolished, the Dáil would be left unfettered in matters of legislation. The fact is the Dáil would be no more unfettered than it is now.
The Seanad has no powers of any consequence beyond the following. It can initiate a Bill but even if the Bill passes through the Seanad it must then go to the Dáil where it can either be passed or voted down. A Bill passed through the Dáil must go to the Seanad but all the Seanad can do is delay it or propose amendments to it, in response to which the Dáil can tell the Seanad to go fly a kite. These are facts, not opinions. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN CASSERLY,
Abbeybridge,
READ MORE
Waterfall, Near Cork.