Sir, – In his argument for abolition of the Seanad, Des O’Malley (Opinion, September 24th) pronounces that “Powerful second chambers merely slow down policy change”. Mr O’Malley presumably thinks this is a bad thing.
On the contrary, it is surely best practice to take some time to properly debate the principles and tease out the practicalities of a proposed change in national policy. The difficulty with the argument that as “a small open country Ireland has to be faster to adapt”, is that our chosen “adaptations” tend to be short-termist, with a plethora of unintended consequences.
If the boom times taught us anything, it is surely that rushed adaptation to temporary market demands is a recipe for long-term pain. If a reformed Seanad can serve to provide measured counsel of caution, then I am all in favour of its retention. – Yours, etc,
CATHAL MALONE BL
Hillcrest,
Carrigaline, Co Cork.
Sir, – I would like to compliment Des O’Malley on his persuasive argument, for voting Yes in the referendum (Opinion, September 25th). I have been in two minds on this issue. It is hard to argue in favour of retaining the Seanad, especially in its current format. However, voting No would not mean the Seanad would be reformed and would instead probably be allowed to drift along as it has done for many years. Against that, it is tempting to vote Yes as a response to the cack-handed way that Fine Gael have driven this issue: Enda Kenny’s mysterious conversion to abolition, the €20 million seemingly plucked from the air, their criticism of the Seanad for not reforming itself, etc.
Mr O’Malley has brought a dose of realism to the whole debate. Yours, etc,
MARK CROWTHER,
Brian Avenue,
Marino, Dublin 3.
Sir, – Des O’Malley opines (Opinion, September 25th) that Seanad Éireann is not the problem (with Irish politics), nor is it the solution. His conclusion is correct but his analysis in support of a Yes vote in the Abolition Referendum is flawed. Most accept the need for root and branch reform of our political system. They care more about what Mr O’Malley was not doing about it during his 34 years in Dáil Éireann and less about whether he was ignoring debates on the role of the Seanad. Voters care more about what he would do now about political reform and less about the consistency of his view on the Seanad over time. The difficulty with the referendum proposal is that it puts the cart before the horse.
Let us see the necessary political reforms implemented before we remove a fundamental plank of our existing constitutional democracy. – Yours, etc,
WILLIAM AYLMER,
Brittas Grange,
Brittas, Co Dublin.
Sir, – When Gordon Wilson’s astonishing act of forgiveness stopped a violent reaction to the foul Enniskillen Remembrance Day bombing, the subsequent acknowledgment of his extraordinary character was expressed in his appointment to Seanad Éireann. The idea that this institution is costed and condemned at €20 million following billions of euros frittered away into zombie banks is an indication of a country that has got its valuations in a muddle if not a bubble. – Yours, etc,
SHANE PAUL
O’DOHERTY,
Hollybrook Road, Dublin 3.
Sir, – I will be voting for abolition of the Senate. The terms “transparency” and “accountability” used in relation to that body as its function is just empty verbalism and sanctioned utterance; worse still, our senators have never had any powers except to delay; in other words the institution is a humbug. From their mode of election, their posturing, their sense of self-importance, it is past time they sought a more useful vocation. – Yours, etc,
JOHN J FALLON,
Ardagh, Boyle.
Sir, – It’s a choice between a doctor who will try and heal the limb, or a butcher who will hack it off. – Yours, etc,
GERARD LEE,
St Agnes Park, Dublin 12.
Sir, – Am I the only citizen frightened at the loss of Senate input to our civil rights? Without the work of Prof John Crown to ensure that a cancer patient could be treated with an appropriate drug, without Mary Robinson’s fight to enable women to avail of contraception, without Senator Norris educating us about homosexuality, life in Ireland would be a darker place for many.
Vulnerable citizens need independent advocates. We need the fighting spirit of the Senate. – Yours, etc,
DAPHNE MORGAN,
Bushy Park Road, Dublin 6.