SEANAD REPORT:AN UNSUCCESSFUL attempt was made to have the House observe a minute of silence to commemorate those who died in the first World War.

The proposal was made by Joe O’Reilly (FG) who said it would be appropriate for the Seanad to make such a gesture because of its reputation for taking a particularly pluralist and broad-minded stance on a range of issues.

Cathaoirleach Pat Moylan said the House was dealing with the Order of Business and Mr O’Reilly’s suggestion was not in conformity with that.

Jim Walsh (FF) said he joined in extending sympathy with regard to people who died in that conflict. “Many of them lost their lives because of British military incompetence . . . which we should condemn,” he added.

Mr Walsh said he had listened previously to Fine Gael members extolling the vision of John Redmond. He wondered how they felt when they realised that the leadership of their party was attempting to hatch a deal with Sinn Féin with regard to the Donegal byelection. Did they recognise the deep contradictions involved there?

Ivana Bacik (Lab) voiced her agreement with Mr O’Reilly’s suggestion, adding that she intended to stay silent for one minute.

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Joe O’Toole (Ind) said he was considering an approach to the courts over the failure of the Government to broaden the third-level franchise for Seanad elections in line with the approval given by the electorate in the 1979 referendum.

Ms Bacik said the Pearse Doherty case had put a legal framework on the concept of democracy. Mr Walsh (FF) said this was political grandstanding in terms of looking for the intrusion of the courts into the political arena. A debate on the separation of powers was urgently needed.

Seanad leader Donie Cassidy said he would make it a priority to see how the extension of graduate voting could be made a reality.