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.

The communications minister insisted the Taoiseach “probably should have” taken part in a TV debate after Fianna Fáil branded Mr Kenny a “coward”.

Waterford TD John Deasy has blasted his party leader for not debating the Seanad referendum in the run-up to the poll, saying that was the reason why many people decided to vote no.

“I think it was a huge mistake not to debate,” said Mr Deasy. “I think I can understand why he didn’t want a presidential-style debate with Micheál Martin, but I think he should have engaged with somebody like [newsreader] Bryan Dobson and, at the very least, explained his reasons in the last week why he initiated this referendum in the first place.”

Mr Deasy said he was “not surprised” by the Government’s defeat in the referendum. “There was a swing in the last four or five days. It was down to, I think, the non-engagement by the Taoiseach, very definitely. I think the argument with regard to the €20 million and the cost issue was debunked.”

Mr Rabbitte admitted ministers were “scratching their heads” over what to do now after abolition option was voted down in a tight 51.7%-48.3% split that defied opinion polls

Despite Mr Kenny’s repeated insistence in the campaign that reform of the “dysfunctional” Seanad was not an option, Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin pledged the Government would move “fairly speedily” on an overhaul to make the Seanad more “effective”.

“Ultimately we may need to ask the people by way of another referendum for specific changes to bring about radical reform than the current constitution provides for,” Mr Howlin told RTÉ.

The referendum option was backed by Fine Gael junior finance minister Brian Hayes who said: “It has to go back to the public one way or another. The people have spoken.”

Mr Rabbitte said the Government now had an “obligation” to reform the second chamber.

“The people want us to maintain the institution and, therefore, we have an obligation to reform it, but it will take some discussion and debate about how that can be done within the constraints of the Constitution and without another referendum,” he said.

Pressed on whether Enda Kenny’s controversial dismissal of head-to-head debates could have impacted on the result of the referendum, Mr Rabbitte said: “Who knows? It may. The margin was wafer thin.”

Mr Kenny said that he would “reflect” on the referendum result after he conceded he had taken a political “wallop” from voters.

Constitutional Convention chairman Tom Arnold has asked Mr Kenny to extend the lifetime of the body by three months until March next year so that it can consider the future of the Seanad.

Fianna Fáil’s Dara Calleary said major Seanad reforms could be brought in quickly without the need for another referendum.