Rebellion against Seanad abolition grows

The backbench rebellion against the abolition of the Seanad is growing, with more TDs and senators opposing the Government’s plan to shut down the upper house.

The opposition comes as it emerges the Government will spend €2.1m on informing the public about the referendum on whether the Seanad should close or not.

A TV3 poll yesterday found 53% of voters want to abolish the Seanad.

Labour party chairman Jack Wall told the Irish Examiner he would add his voice to the numbers opposing the abolition, and that he intended raising his argument with voters.

His comments came as two Government senators also said they wanted to retain the Upper House.

Kildare South TD Jack Wall said he would not only vote no in the October referendum but that he would make his objections known to voters in his area.

“It shouldn’t be abolished,” said Mr Wall. “I will agree to the legislation, but when the time comes I will be voting no,

“I was a member of it. I’m happy for it to be retained.

Asked what he thought of Mr Kenny’s warning that Government party TDs needed to support the measure, Mr Wall said: “I’m doing that with the legislation. But as a citizen, I can vote whichever way I want.”

Labour senator Susan O’Keeffe said that she welcomed the debate that would come with the referendum.

She said she would vote for the legislation for the abolition but wanted to retain the chamber. However, she said that she would not be “running around campaigning for that”.

She said the Seanad had a role to play in democracy but that it needed to be reformed.

Fine Gael senator Fidelma Healy Eames said she wanted to see more direct elections of senators and the upper house free of party politics.

“I will be advocating a no vote on the basis that that should lead to a reformed Senate that would serve the Irish people better,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Government has appointed the independent commission, headed by High Court judge Elizabeth Dunne, to oversee the distribution of information ahead of the October referendum.

Elsewhere, a TV3 poll has found just 23% of voters do not want to abolish the Seanad.