Sir, – The Seanad reforms proposed by Dr Maurice Manning's group are a step in the right direction, but the reforms need to go further ("Plan to give Seanad vote to all Irish citizens", April 14th).
All registered voters in the Republic, and all eligible Northern Ireland residents and all eligible emigrants, should have the right to vote for all 60 positions in the Seanad. The five panels could be retained, and a voter would choose a ballot paper for all or some of the panels. The voter would mark the ballot by placing a preference number next to the names of preferred candidates. Based on the number of seats assigned to each panel, and the outcome of the preference tabulations, the leading equal number of preferred candidates would be elected.
Limiting the number of seats eligible voters can cast a ballot for by ring-fencing some seats as exclusive for TDs, county councillors and the taoiseach is inherently undemocratic. – Yours,etc,
DAN DONOVAN,
Dungarvan,
Co Waterford.
Sir, – The proposals for reform of the Seanad published by the working group are interesting, address practical problems and above all are realisable.
The follow-up of publishing a draft Bill to give effect to the working group’s reforms within weeks would show intent, purpose and commitment from the Government.
The implementation group recommended in the report should be established without delay and the legislation for the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill should be published and enacted before the summer recess as a demonstration of the Government’s aim to follow through. The general scheme of this Bill was circulated for consultation over 12 months ago and the constitutional amendment enabling this was passed 36 years ago. Enacting this legislation before the next general election is the Seanad reform equivalent of throwing the mortarboard cap over the wall. – Yours, etc,
DANIEL SULLIVAN,
Dublin 2.
Sir, – It is refreshing to see radically new thinking in the Seanad reform working group report.
I especially welcome the proposals to extend the franchise for the vocational panels not just to the current Irish electorate but also to Irish citizens resident outside the State in Northern Ireland and abroad.
I urge the Government to give the report and its accompanying Bill a high priority and allow the reforms proposed to progress without delay. – Yours, etc,
RICHARD LOGUE,
London.
Sir, – Looking at the proposed Seanad voting reforms, there is one glaring reform missing. The 13 members to be elected by incoming Dáil members and councillors should instead be elected by outgoing Dáil members and councillors, or maybe just councillors, and the election should be held on the same day as Dáil elections, so that candidates have to opt for one chamber or the other.
Even better would be to have no members of the Seanad elected by politicians, but I suppose that would definitely be too much to ask. – Yours, etc,
VINCENT MURPHY,
Cork.
Sir, – Imagine the sheer excitement I felt on learning of another radical report into reform of the Seanad. I simply can’t get enough of these radical reports. Each one filled with more promise than the last.Nevertheless, all this talk of implementation of recommendations is, I feel, getting a little ahead of ourselves. Indeed I fear we are putting the cart before a horse that has long since died of boredom.
Is there something to be said for establishing another expert group to put more flesh on the bones of the poor dead nag? Perhaps a centenary commemoration report?
I live in hope. – Yours, etc,
JODY MADIGAN,
Rathmines, Dublin 6.
Sirs, – First, half of all seats to be filled from the electorate by secret ballot. Then, a steady incremental crawl towards all seats being filled in the same way. Then one day we will awake to find that we have, in fact, two Dáils. Dear me! Why two? Why do we not simply merge them? And bingo! Abolition of the Upper House by stealth. – Yours, etc,
JOHN CULLY,
Monkstown,
Co Dublin.