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Seán Kelly Niall Carson/PA Archive/Press Association Images

'They'd do an excellent job': MEP says senators should scrutinise EU legislation

What to do with senators now they’re saved? Seán Kelly has an idea…

FINE GAEL MEP Seán Kelly has suggested that now the Seanad is retained senators should focus on European legislation and policy.

The former GAA president has said that the reduction in the number of Ireland’s MEPs to 12 to 11 means that a role could now be found for senators to scrutinise what’s happening in Europe.

Speaking to radioep.ie, Kelly suggested that each member be given one of the 20 European Parliament committees each to examine legislation and see how it might impact on Ireland.

“They’d do an excellent job because there are some very intelligent people in the Seanad,” Kelly said.

He said that with more and more legislation emanating Europe and fewer Irish MEPs to scrutinise it this would be a change that could be done “in the morning without any legislation”.

Kelly continued: “TDs are again extremely busy in their constituency work. There is an awful lot of legislation in Ireland which has to be monitored.”

He said that now it had been decided to have a bicameral system in Ireland “we must make the best use of it and certainly I think this is an opportunity we should shouldn’t waste”.

“What is really needed is some group to focus on what’s happening in Europe and that will give us a huge advantage over the rest of Europe,” he added.

Speaking before an Oireachtas committee yesterday, UCD law lecturer Dr Gavin Barrett discussed the possibility of senators having a specific role in scrutinising what happens in Europe.

In a statement afterwards the chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on EU Affairs, Dominic Hannigan, said: “An enhanced role for the Seanad in EU oversight was also raised, with Dr Barrett pointing out that the current public appetite for reform of the Seanad had to be grasped with urgency.”

Barrett suggested that the EU Affairs committee have overall responsibility for the scrutiny process given the “profound impact” that legislation formulated in Europe has on Irish citizens.

Five-day weekend: The Seanad sat for just two days this week

Kenny: I’ve a busy schedule but I’ll talk about Seanad reform as soon as I can

Read: Everyone’s talking about reforming the Seanad, but how could we do it?

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11 Comments
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    Mute Sean Claffey
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    Jan 5th 2015, 3:51 PM

    This is probably my best Monday in a long time. Got up at 5am and went to the gym and had a nice breakfast. Feel great. Pity next time I do this will probably be the first day of 2016.

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    Mute Art Vandelay
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    Jan 5th 2015, 3:43 PM

    It’s the longest Monday of all time. Kill me, please….

    146
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    Mute Sarah Collier
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    Jan 5th 2015, 3:32 PM

    I coped grand last Monday thanks not everybody had a long break

    138
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    Mute martina
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    Jan 5th 2015, 3:35 PM

    Agreed Sarah!
    Advice: Get over it Dawson

    60
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    Mute Ariana
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    Jan 5th 2015, 9:03 PM

    And I coped fine the Saturday before.

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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Jan 5th 2015, 4:59 PM

    Well today has made it very clear that I go get a different job. Idiots remain idiots after 2 weeks off. The only difference is it is clearer today

    125
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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Jan 5th 2015, 3:44 PM

    Well I was working over the xmas and I’m not back in work for another week.

    120
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    Mute Richard O'Callaghan
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    Jan 5th 2015, 3:36 PM

    Wore my yoga pants in this morning – damn the begrudgers.

    100
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    Mute Stephen Michael Mulligan
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    Jan 5th 2015, 4:02 PM

    The amount of people who appeared to be relearning how to drive this morning on the M7/M9 was fairly disheartening.

    The commute to work last week was lane-hog free.

    92
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    Mute George Knight
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    Jan 5th 2015, 4:30 PM

    Couldn’t sleep till half 5 with the fear of coming in. Looking at the clock said 10 past 2….looked at what in my mind was a half hour said 5 past 2……Think I was taken by aliens!!!!!

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    Mute Jason
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    Jan 5th 2015, 3:38 PM

    These articles are very presumptuous – a lot of us are back a week now. And I’ve a ‘cushy’ office job.

    79
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    Mute Ally
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    Jan 5th 2015, 5:15 PM

    Was torture… Kept waking up all night- in case I missed the alarm! Worst January blues ever, new job needed.

    78
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    Mute Jeanniejampots
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    Jan 5th 2015, 3:34 PM

    Easing myself into it, started early so I could finish now :)

    58
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    Mute EverybodyCYHSY!
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    Jan 5th 2015, 7:02 PM

    Happy enough to be back, though was absolutely positive I had finally got over my office crush, only to see the person in question today, and automatically feel that weird dull ache in my heart. Damn you good-looking co-worker!

    53
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    Mute Brian Donovan
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    Jan 5th 2015, 4:06 PM

    Took a half day…..
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    …… To go and do a college exam :-(

    46
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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Jan 5th 2015, 5:29 PM

    Best of luck. Hope it went well.

    32
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    Mute gumbridge
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    Jan 5th 2015, 3:42 PM

    Oh, I hate Mondays.
    Thank God for cigarettes!

    45
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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jan 5th 2015, 4:12 PM

    Keep up the fags and you won’t have too many bad Mondays left.

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    Mute Maggie
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    Jan 5th 2015, 4:54 PM

    Lmao

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    Mute Aoibhin Ní Mhaille
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    Jan 5th 2015, 3:35 PM

    I’m still here thanks to copious amounts of Neros coffee!

    39
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    Mute Allison Smith
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    Jan 5th 2015, 5:20 PM

    Oh you poor poor people that had 2 weeks off. I worked Christmas day and all over Christmas. Just glad I wasn’t in today to witness all the traffic

    38
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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Jan 5th 2015, 5:30 PM

    Everyday I don’t work I don’t get paid so Christmas is v expensive. Between the bank holidays and days the company closes it is the only long break I can take by taking a few days off I get 2 weeks but that is it for the year.

    11
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    Mute Mark Gerard Lochlain
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    Jan 5th 2015, 4:48 PM

    Delighted to be back into a routine!!! Gym at 6am and work was great actually!!! Feel very refreshed!!

    22
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    Mute Maggie
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    Jan 5th 2015, 4:54 PM

    Weirdo

    103
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    Mute fuve
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    Jan 5th 2015, 4:37 PM

    I was back the Saturday after Stephens day bunch of wusses. I usually count one hour ahead. So if I have five hours to go I think,only four hours to go and go on. Keep busy with anything of quiet and day flies in.

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    Mute Mrs Shalakalananaka
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    Jan 5th 2015, 6:56 PM

    I don’t work Monday-Friday, 9-5, so I’m grand.

    12
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    Mute Kel Lynch
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    Jan 5th 2015, 6:12 PM

    Was tough enough!! Quieter week this week as courts not open again until next week but still missing not getting up until at least 11am…

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    Mute Deirdre Casey
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    Jan 5th 2015, 4:52 PM

    On site massage helps big time! Prebooked before xmas to ease back in to the routine!
    These guys are great! http://www.zestatwork.ie

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    Mute Philip Cooper
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    Jan 5th 2015, 6:09 PM

    Ugh.

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    Mute Trevor Weafer
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    Jan 5th 2015, 11:28 PM

    Not back until the 12th.

    1
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