SENIOR FINE GAEL TD Olivia Mitchell has broken ranks with her party and opposed the abolition of the Seanad.

The Dublin South deputy said the Government policy championed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny was “fairly dramatic and far reaching”.

In a statement released ahead of a debate in the Dáil this evening she said: “I certainly don’t dispute the need for reform and I know there is a perceived need and temptation in difficult times to streamline everything, even democracy.

But abolishing the Senate is fairly dramatic and far reaching.

She added: “Reform should be done in a coherent way, by establishing what we want to achieve and identifying all the elements of change required.

“Right now without knowing what might replace it or what other reforms might come in tandem with abolition, it isn’t clear to me how politics, our political process or the national welfare will be informed by the abolition of the Senate.”

Mitchell also called Dáil sitting times “anti-family” and said they discourage  female participation in politics.

A Fine Gael spokeswoman said: “The Government is  committed to putting the question to the people in terms of the Seanad through a national referendum.”

She added: “The Taoiseach made it clear that he expected members of the parliamentary party to campaign for abolition.”

Read: TDs will be forced to vote: should the Seanad be abolished or reformed? >

Read: Enda tells government parties: You must support Seanad abolition >