Seanad could be reformed at little expense

I believe in democracy.

In a democracy there should be an upper house and a lower house. The Seanad, in its present form is not fit for purpose. To completely abolish it would be to undermine democracy and hand complete power to the current Government, which with its current majority would virtually make it a totalitarian government, something everyone who believes in freedom should be very afraid of.

The Seanad could be reformed quite easily and with little expense.

Why not allow the Seanad be made up of Ireland’s MEPs and the various heads of the local authorities (city and county mayors and lord mayors) and maybe a number of non-political affiliated people, such as leaders of various Rotary/Lions clubs and/or leaders of Chambers of Commerce from around the country. Instead of ‘forcing’ these people to travel to Kildare Street, Dublin, they could meet by video conferencing from the comfort of their offices and/or homes and ban the whip in the Seanad. Also make it clear from the start to these people that there is no ‘extra’ salary, just a strict expense reimbursement allowance. I believe this might strengthen our democracy and ‘decentralise’ an institution that is at present very centralised and being openly ridiculed.

So Taoiseach why not give us 3 options: 1. No change to the current Seanad set-up. 2. Abolition of the Seanad. 3. Reform of the Seanad.

Patrick Linehan

Carrigaline

Co Cork