Kenny’s failure to debate rankles

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has promised if the Irish people vote to abolish one half of the Houses of the Oireachtas this coming Friday, the “radical” Dáil reforms he has initiated will more than make up for the future lack of debate following the “Silence of the Seanad”.

One of the eye-catching elements of the rebalancing of power will include allowing members of the public, experts, and civil society voice their opinions at pre-legislative stage before laws are drafted. An easing of the party whip system and less use of the guillotine are also “envisaged”.

Yet, despite these visions of a more open government and more open debate, the Taoiseach himself has ducked out of appearing on tonight’s live one-hour Prime Time debate with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.