Voters will reject bid to abolish Seanad: Mara

Voters will reject Enda Kenny’s bid to abolish the Seanad and will give the Government a “kick in the arse” in October’s referendum, according to ex-government spin doctor PJ Mara.

The former Fianna Fáil elections strategist claims many Oireachtas members in the Coalition parties he has spoken to do not want to close the Upper House.

PJ Mara was a senator under two different governments in 1981 and 1982.

He also dismissed as “bollix” any questions about the relationship between Digicel owner Denis O’Brien, whom he works for, and the Government.

In the second part of an interview with the Irish Examiner, the PR guru predicted voters would reject the October vote to abolish the Seanad just like they rejected empowering the Oireachtas two years ago.

“It’s going to be lost,” said Mr Mara. “People will vote against it. It will be like the Oireachtas inquiries referendum. People will turn that down just for pig iron, a kick in the arse. it’s also not that important to people’s lives... low turnout.

“Talking to people in Fine Gael, Labour, and Fianna Fáil, they think it will be lost too.”

Opposition among elected representatives nationwide would overturn the Government campaign, he said.

“County councillors are going to want to keep the Seanad. It gives them a bit of clout with people coming out for election. The senators who are there, most of them are going to campaign to retain the Seanad. A big chunk of the Dáil deputies will campaign to retain it because if they lose their seats, they see the Seanad as a rest home.”

Voting in two referenda will take place on October 4, where the electorate will be asked to decide on the future of the Seanad as well as the establishment of the new Court of Appeal.

Mr Mara said the results would be just like the referenda in Oct 2011, when voters supported cuts to judges’ pay but rejected measures to empower Oireachtas inquiries.

Mr Mara said Mr Kenny came up with the idea of closing the Seanad at a Fine Gael presidential dinner in Oct 2009. He also queried why Mr Kenny made the man who tried to oust him as Fine Gael leader — Richard Bruton — the party’s referendum campaign director.

“It was the top of his head at a Fine Gael dinner one night,” said Mr Mara. “Never a word during general election campaign. A lot of his party won’t be campaigning for it, wait and see. Richard Bruton is director of elections. Hello!”

He praised Mr O’Brien and dismissed suggestions the businessman had a close relationship with the Fine Gael-led coalition.

“That’s a load of bollix. Denis has no politics. Denis would have as many friends in Fianna Fáil as he would have in Fine Gael.”