Abolition of Seanad - Government not open to reform

The Government yesterday announced plans for the 32nd amendment to the Constitution to abolish the Seanad. The amendment, which is expected to be put to the people later this year, will provide for 40 changes to the Constitution to remove all references to the upper house.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny stressed that he considers the Seanad an outmoded institution that is completely incompatible with a modern democratic Ireland. For a country our size, we have too many politicians, the proposals announced yesterday by the Government seeks to cut our parliamentary representation by about one-third. This should save around €20m annually.

In addition to the abolition of the Seanad, it is proposed to cut the size of the Dáil by eight teachtaí, and reform legislative procedures. Henceforth, each piece of legislation would be sent first to the relevant Dáil committee as heads for a bill.