Sir, – Before Micheál Martin adopts “smug” as his default setting, he should realise that the rejection of Amendment 32 was not a triumph for him. I voted No partly because the next Fianna Fáil government – and someday, God help us, there will be one – must have a second chamber to balance the power it will wield. I hope that by then we have a fully reformed, democratically elected Seanad to keep them honest.
Meanwhile, there’s the chance that the Seanad, even in its present form, can keep Enda Kenny’s lot from losing the run of themselves. – Yours, etc,
EILEEN KELLY,
Grangemore,
Templeboy,
Co Sligo.
Sir, – All 60 Seanadóirí should be required to attend from 9am until 3pm daily. The Seanad should have all its windows and exits sealed and the hot air generated within should be bottled and used to heat Dáil Éireann. This would be both good for the environment and result in a saving for the exchequer. – Yours, etc,
MICK O’BRIEN,
Springmount,
Kilkenny.
Sir, – Now that the Seanad is to be retained, it needs to be made effective by reforming its electoral system, with a view to allowing citizens to influence panels reflecting areas of expert knowledge. The panels as set up in 1938 need to be adapted to current requirements. The current restricted electorate, based on an incomplete university graduate sector, and local government councillors, is anomalous, unsuitable, unrepresentative of citizens.
For example, education, industry, agriculture, commerce, finance, science, technology, environment, local government, religion all have organisations capable of nominating potential senators having expertise relevant to legislation. Citizens should be entitled to vote on perhaps three panels, whichever concerns them most, at election-time – which should coincide with a general election.
Candidates on each panel should receive a preference-ranking vote from each voting citizen. The number elected per panel should reflect the number of citizens who select each panel. This might vary, depending on the strength of public concern about issues within each topic.
I look forward to seeing something along these lines emerging in the discussions about reform. – Yours, etc,
ROY H W JOHNSTON,
Rathmines Park, Dublin 6.
Sir, – When I went to my local polling station, did I expect to be presented with two different coloured voting slips? No! Had I been advised through the media of this colour proposal and their representations? No! Was there on either voting slip even the simplest of logos such as a bewigged lawyer and curved seating chamber and harp to differentiate the voting slips? No! Did I require any further convincing as to my intention to vote No? No! – Yours, etc,
JOHN FITZMAURICE,
Glenview Park,
Kilpedder,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – I was somewhat astonished to read of the low turnout of voters in the referendum on the abolition of the Senate. This result must surely mark a low point in the existence of our political institutions, as it reveals to us that more than 60 per cent of voters couldn’t care less if we have a Senate or not. It also exposes the fact that our rulers, that class of self-interested, overpaid, protected and self-important individuals, have lost the plot completely. They are totally out of touch with reality, or with the concerns and struggles of the ordinary people of Ireland as they strive daily to keep their lives together in the face of disasters brought upon them due to past and present ill-considered actions of our illustrious politicians. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN ROTHSCHILD,
Brighton Avenue,
Monkstown,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Now that we have successfully retained the Seanad, perhaps we can now turn our attention to another pillar of democracy that is under threat. The abolition of town councils is on the departmental agenda for the past 40 years and at last the mandarins have found a Minister ready to do their bidding.
As a former member of a progressive town council for 20 years, I can vouch for the local democratic input into the decision-making process. In a town council there is no place to hide, as all important decisions taken by the members are done by roll-call vote.
Over the next few months there will be much mention of duplication of services, value for money and other meaningless phrases. Ignore them. The stark reality is that urban government is far more effective and economic than the larger county body.
If local government reform is the objective, then the model of a district council based on the large town plus its natural economic and social hinterland would be the only way to go. However, that is not what is envisaged and we have to ask, why not?
I am sure some readers will recall the “principle of subsidiarity” which was a great buzz phrase a number of years ago. Where is it now?
The past few days have shown that the people value democracy, and I feel it behoves us all to guard against its diminution in any way. If local democracy ebbs away it will be like our language – we will only miss it when its gone. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL JOY,
Westbrook Court,
Midleton, Co Cork.
Sir, – I voted No in order to preserve an integral part of our inclusive democratic institutions, as I’m sure many others did.
I strongly object to a “protest against the Government” spin being applied to thoughtful, informed and determined voters who recognised the historical imperative.
I would also like to thank Paddy Power, who gave me a five to one win for my bet on a No outcome. – Yours, etc,
FRANK KAVANAGH,
Plaza Frederico Moyua,
Bilbao, Spain.
Sir, – It appears the No side now wants our Taoiseach to initiate Seanad reform. This is interesting given its portrayal of Enda Kenny as a power-grabbing dictator. Surely it is not safe to entrust the task of reform to such a person? – Yours, etc,
MARGARET LEE AHANE,
Newport,
Co Tipperary.
Sir, – The arguments presented by the Government for the abolition of the Senate were a more cogent case for the reform of the Dáil: 1. Reduce the Dáil by 60-plus; 2. Would save more than €20 million; 3. The Dáil did nothing in the face of the bank guarantee.
The Government further undermined its case in arguing 4. That €20 million would be saved – a statement that was blatantly false; 5. That the Senate was never reformed – surely the responsibility of the government, since the Senate itself could not initiate reform; and, most damaging of all, the refusal of Enda Kenny not to engage in public debate nor any formal discussion. He compounded this by trying to defend this refusal. – Yours, etc,
JOHN KEANE,
Hanover Square, Dublin 8.
Sir, – I have to confess to a rather undemocratic feeling of superiority over your columnists Fintan O’Toole and Breda O’Brien.
When voting on the proposal to abolish the Senate, I decided against taking the option exercised by O’Toole and O’Brien, ie, voting No and writing the word “Reform” across the ballot paper. Instead, I contented myself with a simple No vote, even though I felt at the time that the proposed abolition of the upper house would be carried nationally by a significant majority.
The casting of a vote represents the most practical expression of the democratic process in action. I found it difficult to see how that process would have been advanced if I had followed your two columnists in effectively spoiling my vote.
Perhaps the lessons we should draw from this referendum are the importance of trusting in the power of the individual voter and the even greater importance of refusing to allow opinion polls dictate how we exercise our franchise at the ballot box. – Yours, etc,
PAUL GULLY,
St Lawrence’s Road,
Clontarf, Dublin 3.
Sir, – The result of the Seanad vote is: Dublin 2, Mayo 0. Enda Kenny? End a story. Collapse of Chairman Mayo. – Yours, etc,
HUGH McFADDEN,
Clareville Road,
Dublin 6W
Sir, – It is time to return to the classical definition of a Seanad. It should consist of mature men and women whose life experiences in business, education, politics, education and religion are worth sharing with the citizens of this country for the benefit of all. Most importantly, they should be of independent means and give their services on a pro bono basis. – Yours, etc,
TONY CORCORAN,
Fairbrook Lawn,
Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.