Overseas citizens, all third-level graduates and the general public would have the right to vote in Seanad elections under the terms of Fine Gael proposals to reform the upper house of the Oireachtas published today.
Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny said the Seanad is becoming "increasingly irrelevant" to the public and is failing to attract "high-calibre individuals" willing to participate in public life without involving themselves in representative politics.
In a submission to an Oireachtas subcommittee review of the composition and functions of the Seanad, Fine Gael also proposed that the upper house become more focused on long-term planning and less engaged in partisan politics.
"In recent years the Seanad has increasingly mirrored the Dáil, both in its membership and in the work which it undertakes. However, because none of its members are elected directly by the public the Seanad is regarded as increasingly irrelevant to the people.
"Fine Gael would like to see the Seanad take on a more strategic role, with less emphasis on short-term party political positions and more emphasis on identifying the needs of Ireland into the 21st century," Mr Kenny said.
Currently, the Seanad is composed of 60 members: 11 nominated by the Taoiseach and six by graduates of Trinity and the National University of Ireland, with the remaining 43 elected from five panels representing culture, agriculture, labour, industry and public administration.
TDs, outgoing senators and local authority members are entitled to vote for the five panels.
In an effort to address the Seanad's democratic deficit, the proposals suggest allowing all third-level graduates from State institutions a right to vote as well votes for Irish abroad.
- 20 members elected directly by voters on general election day, drawn equally from the four European constituencies, on a list system basis
- Three members elected by Irish citizens living abroad
- Six members elected by graduates from all the State's third-level institutions
- Reducing the The Taoiseach's nominees from 11 to eight
- Reducing panel members from 43 to 23
- The establishment of a Committee for the Future, examining issues which require long-term consideration and planning
- A special role in scrutinising EU legislation with MEPs allowed attend and address the House but not vote
"Our proposals would transform the composition of the Seanad and the work which it does," Mr Kenny said.
The proposals were published in the Fine Gael submission to the subcommittee of the Oireachtas Committee on Procedure and Privileges.