Sir, – Noel Whelan tells us that proposals for "reform", which would open up elections to the Seanad to all citizens in the Republic, to people in Northern Ireland and to all Irish emigrants, should be implemented "Disgrace that Seanad still being elected in archaic way", Opinion & Analysis, March 18th). He also rejoices that what he calls "absurd" proposals to abolish the Seanad were narrowly defeated in a referendum.
Colum Kenny essentially backs him up by declaring that the idea of abolishing the Seanad was "treated with contempt" by voters ("Unreformed Seanad staggers on", Opinion & Analysis, March 19th). That this is a bit of an overstatement, given that only 39 per cent voted and the margin against abolition was very thin, does not seem to bother him.
The truth is that this recently bankrupt country has more politicians relative to its population than comparable countries. Contrary to what Noel Whelan and Colum Kenny say, the recent referendum did the ordinary people of this over-borrowed country a disservice. It succeeded in maintaining the Seanad as an expensive talking shop for the insider elite and their cronies. Colum Kenny himself calls it “an instrument of political privilege”.
But the influential pro-Seanad lobby are not even satisfied with its retention. Ignoring the fact that they would be making it an even more expensive instrument of political privilege, they are proposing to set up what would essentially be another Dáil with a large non-taxable electorate.
How many extra hospital beds or extra houses for the homeless could be provided with the money that is spent on the existing Seanad, not too mention a more expensive version?
We already have a directly elected Dáil. We do not need another one. We especially do not need an even more expensive one with a large non-taxable electorate. That would be absurd and should be treated with contempt. – Yours, etc,
A LEAVY,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.