Seanad should regain its original purpose

THE Seanad canvassing is under way and we are faced with getting a result which will reinforce the arguments for its abolition.

What we will get, with the honourable exception of a few university representatives, is a mirror image of the Dáil.

If the Seanad is to regain its proper function, it has to have a reformed electorate. The present system of political nomination and patronage has to be replaced with a broader based one. The treatment of the Seanad as a sub’s bench, home for the failed or retired TD, up and coming county councillor, and political lackeys, must be brought to an end. The simplest way to eliminate a lot of this is to have a period of 10 years between taking a seat in one house and the other. We have for too long put up with the Seanad being used as a political perk and this has got to change.

The Seanad should not be abolished in a knee-jerk reaction to supposed public demand. It should regain its original purpose as a check and balance to the Dáil, be able to introduce non-party political opinion and ideas and most importantly be the conscience of the Dáil if and when the Dáil gets ideas above its station. I leave it to others as to how the senators are elected.

John Rogers

Rathowen

Westmeath