Reform it, abolish it, paint it pink and slap a bow on it – the entire “debate” over what to do with the seanad is a large, attention-soaking distraction from the real requirement for reform, which is to eliminate the current disregard by the Government side for the Opposition side, usually expressed by using the party whip system to make any Dail or Seanad ‘vote’ a mockery of the term; a disregard that also means that neither side has any regard for the Electorate except for during the General Election once every few years for a few weeks (and immediately forgotten five seconds after the polls close).

That’s why, when the entire Opposition side gets up and walks out, the Government side keeps on making a speech to empty air and then gets to completely legally hold the vote, win it, and pass the bill.

It’s why we regard politician’s promises during elections as nearly apocryphal examples of things you shouldn’t depend on – and it’s why they regard them the same way. And worse, this applies to their positions on policies as well, and when you can rely on a politician’s policy stances to be irrelevant after the election, you really don’t have a vote anymore in a representative democracy like ours, because you’re being asked to choose between candidates who’ll do exactly the same thing if elected.

Until that’s fixed, you can do whatever you want to the Seanad because the entire Oireachtas is dysfunctional. And it does not matter who’s in the Government seats and who’s in the Opposition seats, this is the one truely non-partisan thing in Irish politics, and it will continue until we do something drastic, like abolishing the party whip system as unconstitutional (something that’s already been done in other countries for the same reason) .

If they are willing to cut and slash every where. They should look at both the Dail and Seanad. Too many TDs, too many holidays. Way overpaid.

What does the Seanad actually do?

Personally I thought it was a dumping ground for politicians would are even more incompetent than the ones in the Dail.

Anything to get a new iPad . Checkout the notice behind Mary.. Lol

Does Mary have an up and coming family member that may want to avail of the extra million he / she will earn when he or she is nearing retirement age?

It’s hard to keep 3 houses going you know………

The Seanad is just a reward for failed TDs and an apprenticeship for aspiring TDs. The mechanism of its membership is grossly undemocratic and insulting to the average Irish citizen. It is only a overpaid unnecessary expensive talking shop and should be abolished ASAP. What else would we expect these “has beens” to say.

Time to get rid of the holding pen.

Mammy o’Rourke defending the right of other inept and useless parasites to enjoy massive perks, expenses and wages.

Wonder did she ever pay that money back to her FF cumann. They were quiet peeded off with her at the time, 30 years serving her politically and she didn’t even leave them enough to but a biscuit after it all. Thanks Suckers for the work.

What a crowd of greedy, arrogant, multi-pensioned, elitists, clinging to their privileges and feeding off the public purse while collaberating in the destruction of the country.

She could have made an effort to introduce her hair to a brush.

The Goverment could keep Roscommon hospital A/E unit open with the money thats paid on the un elected senate.

Abolition

It could be a useful part of Irish politics if all members were elected by us, and their salaries were cut along with the salaries of those in the dail. Personally I would prefer if we had a more democratic two tiered parliament so that the dail didn’t hold all power but I suppose a referendum will tell them what to do fairly quick.

If that overpaid and useless FF windbag thinks the Seanad is a good thing then it needs abolishing, no surprise to see the likes of her wanting to maintain this useless gravy train, no doubt she has a few more members of the dynasty looking to get their greedy snouts in the trough. The Seanad is a cesspit for wannabes, has beens, crony’s, cranks and all grasping to get their grubby little mits on some easy money, you only have to look at some of the weirdos and downright thieves who have mad use of it’s facilities like Ivor Callelly. Whatever merit it once may have had has long since died, time to put it out of it’s misery and time for the freeloaders to find themselves a real job!

The populism espoused by some on this site is the same kind of populism that facilitated Nazism. People queue up to see who can deliver the most angry speech. All the while happily deriding and demanding the abolition of a facet of democracy.

Anyone who has ever picked up a history book surely sees the “November Criminal” logic that so pervades in the zeitgeist of this site at times. I have often heard people stereotyping all those who express more than a passing interest in politics as all “corrupt” “gangsters” (insert generic invective here).

And for the record populism is not a disparaging remark to throw at the opposition. It is the wanton simplification of complex issues that is used to incite the public usually by the far-right to portray them as the ones “who really back the people”.

For example: “How do we fix the economy?” “Blame immigrants/Welfare recipients/other vulnerable people” “How do we reform politics?” “We dont need politicians and their inherently corrupt ways, lets ditch democracy”

People should wise up and stop talking utter nonsense and take time to look at issues properly.

The Seanad should represent all sectors of society and senators should be elected directly by the interest group they represent. For example Teachers Unions should select Teacher Senators. Doing such would also encourage currently unorganised sections of society to do so. If an Unemployment group could be formed for example, to select senators to represent them in the Seanad, they could also undertake other activities to highlight their plight.

It is imperative that “party politics” loses all sway within the Seanad for it to be a positive influence on the state. Thats not to say I have a problem with “party politics” per se, its just that the Seanad, under the right conditions could be a platform for direct democracy.