Seanad is just an elitist crèche — we must demand reform, now

It is my opinion that our undemocratic Seanad is no more than an elitist crèche. If anyone is asked to name a senator, they will probably name David Norris. The majority of the electorate have no idea who our senators are or how they get elected. 

Credit must be given to people who are elected Senators, serve as such, and don’t aspire to run in a general election, but, too often, it is becoming a safety net for those who don’t get elected to the Dáil.

The current system of political elitism sees many of those who failed to get the vote of the people during the general election, get the nod from political counterparts and peers to take a seat in Leinster House. We as a people look on the Seanad without knowledge of its role or its relevance to our society today. How do we even hold our senators to account? We must demand immediate reform of this sub-standard and irrelevant arm of the Oireachtas and reform it to ensure senators are elected by the people, not by fellow politicians and elite groupings.