Sir, – I graduated from the National University of Ireland in 1973, which entitled me to a vote in Seanad elections. I have never exercised that entitlement because I never believed senators should be elected by a privileged minority who were given votes because of schooling or political position.
How anyone can argue for the retention of an elitist, undemocratic institution is beyond me.
If the Seanad is to be retained – and I don’t believe it should be – let everyone who is on the electoral register have a vote and let Seanad elections be held on the same day as Dáil elections, thus putting an end to the practice of using it as a step up to or down from the Dáil. – Yours, etc,
JOHN MacKENNA,
Muine Bheag, Co Carlow.
Sir, – In opening his campaign to kill off An Seanad, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny demagogically proclaims that “Ireland simply has too many politicians for its size”, that we must “question the very relevance of a second chamber”, and that modern Ireland cannot be governed effectively by “a political system originally designed for 19th century Britain”.
Eighty years ago the Blueshirt duce Eoin O'Duffy called for "changes in the parliamentary system which will bring the constitution of the State into closer harmony with national needs" (July 20th, 1933). A year later, on July 4th, 1934, that same first president of Fine Gael demanded to know: "What country in the world today had stood by the parliamentary system? Not one country except John Bull. It is gone all over Europe. "
Unlike his predecessor as Fine Gael Party Leader, Eoin O’Duffy, or his predecessor as taoiseach, John A Costello, we should take comfort in the fact that Enda Kenny has never been a fascist, that it is only one parliamentary chamber he proposes to kill off, and that when history tends to repeat itself, it is usually as farce. But, with all the deep-rooted problems facing Ireland at the moment, should not the electorate treat this Fine Gael circus of constitutional convulsion with the contempt it deserves – as a distracting, self-indulgent farce which we should not be asked to stomach? – Yours, etc,
MANUS O’RIORDAN,
Finglas Road, Dublin 11.
Sir, – Should the Seanad be abolished? No need. Much TV footage of the Dáil proceedings shows many empty seats – could they not all sit together? – Yours, etc,
JOSEPH E MASON,
Merrion Court,
Montenotte, Cork.
A chara , – The Seanad – like a wilting wallflower in the ballroom of democracy hears the strains of the last waltz and with more hope than conviction endeavours to convince us it still has the panache to sweep us off our feet. But, alas, I hear the fat lady sing . . . . – Is mise,
PATRICIA MULKEEN,
Ballinfull, Sligo.
A chara, – The Government is espousing an argument that populous countries need a bicameral legislature, while we small countries can make do with a unicameral system. Does the Government have a formula to equate population size to a state’s entitlement to democratic structures? Will you publish it if they do? – Is mise le meas,
EAMONN LANNOYE,
Brookville Park,
Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Sir, – The old Romans gave the subjects circuses. Are referendums the new distraction for the Irish people – keep their minds off the incompetence of the government and the ineffectiveness of the dáil? (Small case g & d intended!). – Is mise,
CAL HYLAND,
Closheen Lane,
Rosscarbery, Co Cork.
Sir, – Enda Kenny, Fine Gael leader, is insisting the other 75 TDs in the party follow the party whip by publicly supporting the abolition of the An Seanad.
This imposing of the party whip nicely demonstrates the complete lack of democracy which the current Dáil and party whip system impose. If ever a case for reform of the Dáil, rather than abolition of An Seanad, was presented, this is surely it.
Abolition of An Seanad seems to be the brainchild of one man, Enda Kenny, who completely surprised his fellow party members when he came out with it. Now he expects his fellow Fine Gael TDs to show him unquestioning loyalty and support his solo run.
It was unquestioning “loyalty” to the party and party leader which helped cause the Celtic bubble and subsequent disastrous recession. All TDs should remind themselves of that. While it might be embarrassing for Mr Kenny if his brainchild isn’t supported by fellow party members, the world won’t end.
Reform of An Seanad is a good idea: to restore it to its proper purpose, whereby specialists in a particular field can use their expertise to refine and improve the rough draft of law that arrives from the Dáil. The intelligent open debate, unhindered by party politics, allowed in An Seanad can often be a breath of fresh air and more productive than the vitriol spat out in the Dáil. – Yours, etc,
DAVID DORAN,
Royal Oak Road,
Bagenalstown, Co Carlow.
Sir, – To be fair we should all acknowledge that the Seanad has given us such people as Mary Robinson, Donie Cassidy, Christy Kirwan and David Norris. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN CASSERLY,
Waterfall, Near Cork.
Sir, – The high degree of enthusiasm among present and past senators for reform of the Seanad may not convince the electorate that it is an instution worth saving but it should certainly convince them of the truth of Dr Johnson’s statement, “Depend upon it, Sir, when a man knows that he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” – Yours, etc,
DENIS O’DONOGHUE,
Countess Grove,
Killarney, Co Kerry.