Plan to offer North seats in Seanad

Northern politicians could have permanent representation in the Irish Seanad, it emerged today.

Donie Cassidy, leader of Seanad Éireann and a member of Fianna Fáil, said he has proposed the move to boost cross-border relations.

His plan has yet to secure government backing, but he is confident there is support for Northern Ireland filling approximately five seats in the upper house of the Irish parliament.

In the past Irish Governments have nominated individuals from the North to be senators.

The list includes the late peace campaigner Gordon Wilson, whose daughter Marie was killed in the IRA’s Poppy Day bombing in Enniskillen.

Senator Cassidy spoke of his hopes for the new plan during the inaugural meeting in Dublin today of an Irish parliamentary committee set up to help implement the Good Friday agreement.

The new committee offers seats to the North’s Westminster MPs, giving northern elected representatives a role in the workings of the Dáil for the first time.

Unionists are boycotting the committee, with the Democratic Unionist Party dismissing it as an irrelevance.

Unionist parties have accepted links with the Irish government introduced under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, but nationalists are pressing for increased cross-border political activity.

The Irish Senate currently has 60 seats, 43 of which are elected from special panels, with six chosen by the graduates of two universities and 11 selected by the Taoiseach.

Senator Cassidy is proposing the number of nominations granted to the Taoiseach could be increased to a possible 16 to allow for northern representation.

“It is a proposal that I feel very strongly about as leader of the Senate,” he said.

“I believe today was an appropriate forum to bring it to attention.”

Although the move has not yet received government support, the Fianna Fáil senator said he is certain Taoiseach Bertie Ahern would back the move.

“I think it would be welcomed. I’d expect to get not only full government support but also cross-party support,” he said.

Senator Cassidy said the matter would be given serious consideration as part of the current Seanad reform programme.