The Seanad and proportional representation voting were introduced by the founders of the Irish Free State to ensure the interests of Protestants-Unionists were protected.

It is difficult for governments to comply with the aspirations of citizens in recessionary times. Everything has a price and cost of care services for the vulnerable continues to spiral.

The Government is making mileage of having kept its election ‘promise’ to abolish the Seanad.

Isn’t there something deeply dispiriting about the spectacle of our Taoiseach and some of his senior ministers cantering around the country this September, campaigning for votes, to abolish the Seanad and spending €20m of our money to fund this campaign? No matter what the outcome of the voting will be, this Seanad will serve out its full term of office until 2016.

Regarding Pope Francis’ comments on atheists and heaven, (Irish Examiner, Sept 12), let me say that celibacy has a spiritual dimension that transcends discipline.

The penny has finally dropped; thanks to PIP (personal insolvency practitioner) Jim Stafford, we now know the reason for the State’s new insolvency service — to support those on the upper scale of the social-class divide.

Dáil Éireann is as much a retirement home for politicians as is the Seanad.

When Labour senator John Whelan, who is supporting a no vote in the Seanad referendum, was asked (Morning Ireland, Sept 11) if he was not acting against his party he replied no, Labour’s “original intention’’ was to refer the question of abolition to the Constitutional Convention.

There is a misconception about the Seanad referendum that those in favour of reform should vote no. In fact reform can happen even if you vote yes.

Professor John A Murphy has called on the Government to honour Daniel O’Connell, whom he deems the father of democracy in Ireland, with a national holiday.