Seanad costs pittance compared to our debt

The failures of our political system were a major contributor to the Irish banking crisis, necessitating the €64bn bailout. That is €13,457 for every man, woman and child.

The Government is citing the €20m of savings, or €4.21pa for every man woman and child, for closing the Seanad. The people can bear the additional cost until we get proper political reform.

Too few of our politicians focus on national issues; we have a system of local politics. Our TDs are social workers, forced, through multi-seat constituencies, to ignore national issues, such as developing the economy and making laws and regulations. Even Ministers and taoisigh have to commit much of their time to local issues, for fear of losing the next election. We want our taoisigh, ministers, and TDs to focus on national issues.

The Government should correct the system that failed us. I do not believe the Seanad is flawless, but neither am I foolish enough to think it caused the financial crisis, nor that abolishing it will fix the system that failed us.

If, in the end, real reform entails the abolition of the Seanad, then so be it, but start where the real problems lie: Dáil Eireann and our electoral system. Let us not shirk this chance to reform and, instead, let us create some positive legacy for our children, to go along with the €64bn of bailout debt we are bequeathing them.

I urge your readers to force the Government into real reform by voting ‘no’ in the forthcoming referendum.

John Teahan

Sneem

Co Kerry