Labour Senators vow to be Govt watchdog

The Labour Party’s six new Senators can be a very effective Government watchdog in the Seanad, it was claimed today.

Deputy leader Liz McManus said the fresh crop of elected representatives will have an important role in promoting party policy and vetting Dáil legislation.

It is the strongest presence that Labour has ever had in the Seanad.

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East), Alan Kelly (Tipperary North), Michael McCarthy (Cork South West), Phil Prendergast (Tipperary South), Brendan Ryan (Dublin North) and Alex White (Dublin South) today posed for a photocall before holding their first meeting in Leinster House.

“They will be bringing new ideas to the Seanad as the strongest elected team ever,” said Ms McManus.

She added: “Some of the Senators will go on to become TDs in the longterm but in the meantime there is important work in scrutinising the Government.

“We also want to promote our own views, policies and legislation if needs be. We can maximise our role as an Opposition party.”

She pointed out that Independent Senator Mary Henry used her position in the Seanad in the past to introduce important proposals on IVF treatment.

The Labour Party also plans to co-operate more closely with Sinn Féin in the new Dáil, said Ms McManus.

“The Labour Party has always co-operated with other Opposition parties and we expect that to continue. We will work with Fine Gael, Sinn Fein and the one Independent to maximise the impact we can make to hold the Government to account and initiate legislation.”

She added that Labour was making a “fresh start” after the Mullingar Accord with Fine Gael.

“We have a fresh start with a very different landscape. The most important thing now is that we are now the leading party on the Left in the Dáil and we must get our message across,” she added.

New Senator Phil Prendergast, who has 23 years of experience as a midwife in Co Tipperary, said she will be focusing in the Seanad on health service issues like mental health and suicide.

She is the sole Oireachtas representative for Clonmel after the defeat of Independent Seamus Healy in the General Election.

“There is no TD representing an area stretching from Cahir to Carrick-on-Suir so I will also be ensuring that people in that area get proper representation,” she added.