James Reilly "honoured" to join Seanad he once called "very undemocratic" and with "no power"
In a 2013 statement calling for the Seanad to be abolished, Reilly labelled it “very undemocratic” and said it had “no power.”
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In a 2013 statement calling for the Seanad to be abolished, Reilly labelled it “very undemocratic” and said it had “no power.”
“Well, I come in peace, not in war,” Kenny told members in the upper house this afternoon.
The uncertainty over the future of the upper house meant that there wasn’t much business organised for this week.
A Fine Gael senator who was pro-abolition of the Seanad, has said that he voted against the referendum because he felt the Yes campaign was “disrespectful”.
The Taoiseach has proposed all-party talks involving leaders in the Dáil and Seanad on what to do with the upper house.
The post-mortem begins as Enda Kenny’s four-year campaign to get the Seanad abolished flounders.
Enda Kenny told Micheál Martin he would forward information about the Seanad referendum compiled by a unit in his department to the Fianna Fáil leader but this didn’t happen before Friday’s vote.
“Sometimes in politics, you get a wallop in the electoral process” – Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny said he welcomed the clarity that the referendum result has brought but added he was “naturally, personally disappointed”
Enda Kenny’s decision to decline to participate in television debates during the Seanad referendum campaign has been criticised today.
David Norris was in sparkling form at Dublin Castle this afternoon.
Niall Collins said that the party is not taking anything for granted but is encouraged by the results of tallies coming in from around the country.
Too close to call is the word of the day.
The campaigning is over. Now it’s over to you.
He wants you to vote No. Ah no, we’re totally kidding…
Fianna Fáil has warned about the impact on the Constitution that abolishing the Seanad will have in its final appeal to voters today.
He hasn’t gone away you know…
After a little trouble with the colours of the Irish flag – and a little trip for Enda – we think they got the message across.
Labour made its closing argument ahead of Friday’s referendum at a press conference in Dublin today.
Vincent is really looking forward to it either way…
The party is not for turning…
An historical perspective on the State’s Upper House explains its unusual method of composition and perhaps reveals its strange place in Irish politics.
Still a large number of undecideds according a poll in the Irish Times this morning.
With the referendum looming, we answer the questions you’re probably asking.
RTÉ has confirmed Enda Kenny had turned down an invitation to a TV debate. But the Fianna Fáil leader has said he hopes the Taoiseach will change his mind.
Micheál Martin has also said he has been invited by TV3 and Vincent Browne to debate Seanad abolition with the Taoiseach next week, in addition to the planned Prime Time debate on Tuesday.
Fine Gael’s Richard Bruton and Eoghan Murphy discussed the hit television show as they held another Seanad referendum photo-op in Dublin today.
A total of 27 academics have put their name to a letter in the Irish Times today.
Lucinda Creighton said it would be “irresponsible of us not to advocate a position on it” in an interview this morning.
The Fianna Fáil leader has hit out at the Taoiseach over claims from Fine Gael that abolishing the Seanad will save €20 million.
Seanad abolition would exacerbate the problems of the state since the banking collapse in 2008 at a time when proper scrutiny, fresh ideas, and the potential for true political reform are most needed, writes Sean Barrett.
Micheál Martin has accepted an invitation to a head-to-head debate between the party leaders on 1 October but will the Taoiseach?
The Labour and Fine Gael ministers had different views on how much would be saved by abolishing the upper house.
Ireland has seen dramatic change over the last five years; how can we credibly ask all other areas of the public sector to undergo radical reform if we, the body politic, aren’t willing to do the same? asks Simon Harris TD.
With the referendum looming, we answer the questions you’re probably asking.
The newly-formed Reform Alliance reiterated that they are a group of individuals with no united decision on the Seanad.
The Sinn Féin president was popular as he walked the streets this morning but people were more interested in getting their picture with him than discussing the upper house.
Committees would be radically overhauled and given the task of scrutinising legislation to an even greater degree under the government’s reform plans.
The two parties launched their Seanad referendum campaigns today.
Richard Bruton took a stroll in the Dublin sun earlier to meet potential voters in the Seanad referendum. He even bumped into a fellow Cabinet colleague…