No U-turn on ending Seanad: Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin has denied flip- flopping on Seanad abolition as the party prepares to distribute 500,000 leaflets urging voters to sweep away the upper house.

The party had wanted the Constitutional Convention, comprising politicians and citizens, to examine the chamber’s fate — but then backed abolition when the Government refused.

Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said that, without significant reform being on offer, it was better to get rid of the “elitist” upper house.