Seanad Referendum - Reform does not require another poll

The people have spoken, but it is far from clear whether Taoiseach Enda Kenny has heard the unmistakable voice of democracy in a politically embarrassing and damaging defeat of his personal referendum campaign to abolish Seanad Éireann.

Instead of responding positively, decisively, and immediately to the growing clamour for Senate reform, Mr Kenny has merely uttered a vague promise that, in his agenda of political reform, he would “take time to reflect on what role the Seanad might now play”.

Having gone on a personal solo-run to get rid of the Upper House, abandoning his original idea of reforming the Senate, his failure to carry the day leaves the Taoiseach damaged by a self-inflicted defeat. There have been calls for him to consider his position.

Besides getting what he called a “wallop” from the electorate, the winning margin of 3.4%, with 51.7% of voters opposing its abolition and 48.3% for scrapping it, represents a serious setback for Fine Gael. Similarly, Sinn Féin, split on whether to adopt a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ campaign strategy, is damaged by supporting its abolition as an elitist and undemocratic institution.

In contrast with the Senate verdict, the Government’s proposal for a new Court of Appeal was carried by nearly two to one, with 65% in favour. At nearly 40%, the national turnout was better than predicted.

Buoyed by a combination of misleading polls and their own inflated expectations, Mr Kenny and Fine Gael were so confident of victory they had no Plan B for the Seanad’s future. So arrogant were they, no account was taken of reform in the event of losing the referendum. In protest, several voters had written “reform” on their ballot papers, effectively spoiling them.

Ironically, the idea of politicians ridding the country of fellow politicians also stuck in the public craw. It is difficult to see how those senators who advocated a ‘yes’ vote should not resign. And while the campaign focused on the cost of the Senate, erroneously putting the savings at €20m, the final referendum bill will be close to that figure.

Clearly, a realistic alternative to closing the Seanad should have been worked out. It was foolhardy to ignore the possibility of defeat. Despite Mr Kenny’s ill-advised tactic of avoiding debate, a luxury no politician can afford, sticking heads in the sand in a lacklustre campaign was not the answer.

Arguably, a Government spin doctor should at least have glanced at some of the nine reports commissioned on ways of reforming the institution, which are gathering dust in a dark corner at some department.

There is general agreement that Seanad Éireann needs root-and-branch overhaul. But this highly unpopular Government is only now preparing to go through the motions of finding out what people want from the Seanad. That should have been divined long ago.

Conceding that “the people have spoken”, Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin admits “they want two houses and now it falls to us to make the Seanad more effective than it has been”.

He points out this could involve radical reform and possibly another referendum. Already suffering from referendum exhaustion — this Coalition has held six, with more to come — that’s the last thing people want to hear. It should not be beyond the collective wit of highly-paid politicians and civil servants to introduce meaningful reform of both Dáil and Seanad without putting the public through yet another referendum.