The Seanad is not beyond repair

Seanad reform might not be the sexiest topic, but Seanad abolition would be short-sighted.

I do not understand why advocates of abolition do not want to strengthen or reconfigure or reform the Seanad.

We need to stop focusing on the past; we must consider what the Seanad could be. The time to introduce reforming legislation is now — the Seanad is not beyond repair. The Zappone-Quinn Bill provides a workable draft Seanad Reform Bill, which only requires minor tweaks to reform the Seanad.

With the passing of this Bill, the Seanad will be transformed from exclusive, anachronistic and unrepresentative into a dynamic, cost-effective, gender-equal, functional and modern second house.

People with expertise will be able to make a contribution to the work of Seanad Éireann.

Caroline Bergin-Cross

Treasurer Lawyers for Seanad Reform

Law Library

Dublin 7