Seanad ‘needs to be opened to people, not abolished’

The Seanad needs to be opened up to the people, not closed down by politicians, independent senators have demanded.

Launching a bill aimed at widening the democratic base of the upper house and extending the powers of its members, Senators Feargal Quinn and Katherine Zappone called for a no vote in the referendum to abolish the Seanad.

Under the proposed reforms, all citizens would be eligible to elect senators, as well as Irish passport holders living abroad and people in the North.