FF senator lashes out at Martin’s Seanad plan

ONE of Fianna Fáil’s leading senators last night branded Micheál Martin’s bid to get only approved candidates into the upper house as “undemocratic” as she revealed she was quitting the Oireachtas.

Mary White expressed alarm at Mr Martin’s agenda and said she would not stand in next month’s elections after eight years in the Seanad.

Mr Martin sparked outrage among some senators when he made it clear he wanted to use the upper house to help rebuild Fianna Fáil by getting younger and more diverse candidates into the Seanad at the expense of existing members.