SEANAD:PEARSE DOHERTY (SF) said he had no doubt that Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who was making a major issue of the abolition of the Seanad, had endorsed a Bill to extend the range of bodies with the right to nominate candidates for election to it.

He questioned the sincerity of Fine Gael in relation to the future of the Upper House in view of a proposal in the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) (Amendment) Bill. The Bill, first tabled two years ago and debated at second stage yesterday, seeks to add the Local Authority Members’ Association to the bodies with nomination rights in regard to the administrative panel of the Seanad.

Mr Doherty said he favoured abolition of the Seanad because he believed there was no political will to bring in meaningful reform. He believed public mistrust of the system was increased when the second largest political party adopted such double standards.

Joe O’Toole (Ind) said he did not believe the Government would embark on reform of the House. He had no problem about extending the franchise, so he would support the Fine Gael Bill.

He believed every citizen should have a vote in the composition of the chamber. It was ridiculous that he had six votes.

Minister of State Michael Finneran said the Government did not think it would be desirable to make piecemeal changes to the Seanad electoral code at this time.

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We would not get the international confidence needed to restore our economy unless those in financial institutions responsible for the problems were brought to account, Dan Boyle (Greens) said. “The fact that there hasn’t been a legal liability for this action is . . . a matter of shame for this country and, I believe, something that causes a great deal of public anger.”