Abolish the Seanad or democratise it

AT the moment an Oireachtas sub-committee is discussing the issue of Seanad reform. However, this process will be meaningless if the outcome, which will ultimately be decided upon by the main parties, is to continue to deny the majority of Irish citizens the right to decide who is elected to sit in this chamber.

Currently, the Seanad is an Irish version of the House of Lords a very expensive retirement home and talking shop for failed politicians and wannabe TDs looking to heighten their profile.

It is elitist and undemocratic, is totally unrepresentative of the public and has no place in a democratic society.

Considering the colossal amount of taxpayers' money that is squandered on maintaining this institution, there are only two options open to Government if they are serious about Seanad reform. They can either abolish it and operate like a lot of other countries do with just one house of parliament or they can democratise it. This means ending the system by which the Taoiseach (or any one else) appoints senators.

It means giving every Irish citizen, North and South, as well as our emigrants who were forced to leave our shores as a result of the economic mismanagement of successive governments, an equal vote in elections for the Seanad. The current system of only allowing a small section of our society to vote is insulting.

The days of some people being "more equal than others" should be consigned to the dustbin of history.

Cllr Arthur Gibbons,

24, Cartron Bay,

Sligo.