Earlier today I received an email from a Communications firm acting on behalf of seanadreform.com, as below.
Dear
Councillor
Attached is a consultation paper entitled ‘Radical Seanad Reform Through
Legislative Change - Proposals for Measures to Transform Seanad Éireann Without
The Need For Constitutional Amendment’ prepared by Senator Feargal Quinn,
Michael McDowell, Joe O’Toole, Noel Whelan and Senator Katherine Zappone.
Kind regards, etc
The document is meant to be available online. My response is below.
Hi .....,
many thanks for your email. I read through much of the
consultation paper earlier today. Much of it is interesting; some of it is
downright offensive, e.g. the proposal to maintain votes for graduates, and the
vestige of the quasi-fascist Quadragesimo Anno in support of vocational
panels.
My views are straightforward. Seanad Éireann is an
anachronistic, elitist institution which is beyond reform. If we, as a country,
are genuine about actual democracy, and giving power to citizens and
communities, we will move on from the Seanad sideshow and seek real reform of
the Dáil, local authorities and other structures.
I, of course, accept that some individual Senators have been
excellent advocates in the past; but the institution itself is the
problem.
Is mise, le meas,
Dermot Looney
Cllr Dermot Looney
Labour Party | Pairtí an Lucht
Oibre
Tallaght
Central
