Bill to increase number of Seanad election voters on Cabinet's agenda

The changes arise from a Supreme Court ruling on constitutionality on how university members are elected to the Seanad Éireann

The bill will extend the franchise for electing university members of Seanad Éireann to graduates of designated institutions of higher education who hold Irish citizenship.

Changes that would increase the number of people who can vote in Seanad elections are to be discussed by Cabinet on Tuesday.

Minister Darragh O'Brien is to bring forward a bill which will create a new six-seat "Higher Education" constituency for electing university members, replacing the existing NUI and University of Dublin (Trinity College Dublin) constituencies.