Late Late fiasco – Senators should not need scripts

The tone of the briefing document circulated to members of the Seanad before their recent appearance on The Late Late Show raises many questions.

Serious issues had already been raised about the effectiveness of the Senate, about the cost of running the body, and about the number of days that senators normally sit. About a dozen reports have been drafted on the need for reform, but nothing has been done.

The failure to introduce meaningful reform has brought the value of persevering with the Seanad into question, especially in the current economic circumstances. Coaching people before going on the air is one thing, but the briefing document went much further. It amounted to scripting their answers. The suggested replies went so far as advising senators about how they might jokingly evade questions.