No way back if we abolish Seanad

RECENTLY, I was fortunate to attend and speak at the annual Kennedy Summer School in New Ross, Co Wexford. Attendees had two things in common: A fascination with the closest thing Ireland and Irish America have to a royal family, and a belief in the potential of democratic politics.

This latter belief is shared by those Kennedys, past and present, who have made such an extraordinary contribution to American public life and to the unique relationship between Ireland and the US.

A significant portion of the event was spent discussing the life and legacy of the “lion of the Senate”, Edward Kennedy, who used his unparalleled powers of persuasion to build consensus and get legislation through a hyper-partisan Congress.