I have a dream about Seanad reform

I HAVE a dream. The Seanad is reformed so as to reflect what was intended in our constitution, a non-party political upper house democratically representative of civil society, the people’s watchdog of our political system.

I have a dream that in doing so it educates the general population as to our rights and responsibilities in regard to the running of our republic.

I have a dream that the change will be achieved by a new civil societal awareness which demands change, and that our political elite are unable to resist it.

Am I now to face the nightmare of no possibility of such a positive change becoming a reality?

Did our political elite become aware of my dream?

Did they realise that there is now a groundswell of public anger at the behaviour of our politicians, and that there is a demand for change?

I think so.

I hope that this developing civil societal awareness grows to the extent of resisting the backward step of killing off the possibility of a reformed Seanad.

I have a dream.

Brendan O’Donoghue

Killerig

Co. Carlow