All over bar the Seanad referendum

A FORMER leader of the Seanad brought a close to the election count by imploring newly elected members to fight for the continued retention of the Upper House.

Veteran former Fianna Fáil senator Donie Cassidy, who lost his seat this week, called on members of the 24th Seanad to challenge Government proposals to abolish the House.

Election counts for the 60-member Seanad finished yesterday evening with Coalition partners Fine Gael and Labour taking 27, or 53%, of the 49 seats that were voted on.