Second Seanad poll on cards

A second Seanad referendum, aimed at broadening its powers and voting base, has been signalled by Government ministers left reeling by the shock move to save the upper house.

The surprise defeat plunged the Coalition into confusion over what to do next as infighting erupted over Enda Kenny’s refusal to take part in a TV debate during the campaign, with Labour’s Pat Rabbitte indicating the decision could have lost the Government the knife-edge vote.

While Fine Gael ministers publicly rallied to the Taoiseach’s support after the humiliating political snub, some feared his authority had been weakened by voters rejecting a major constitutional policy initiative with which he was so closely associated.