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THE GOVERNMENT IS facing the possibility of losing more votes in the Seanad in the coming weeks and months until a replacement for the new MEP Deirdre Clune is elected to the upper house.
But this by-election of TDs and Senators can’t happen without a change in legislation that the coalition committed to over a year ago.
The current numbers in the Seanad see the government with 29 votes when all Labour and Fine Gael senators are included, along with the casting vote of cathaoirleach Paddy Burke.
However Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil, independents and three senators who have lost the government whip make up a total of 30 votes.
The government can normally rely on the support of some independents such as Jillian Van Turnhout and Marie Louise O’Donnell, but it has lost a number of votes in recent months, including on a bill to ban upward only rent reviews.
Clune’s election as an MEP for Ireland South last month means there is a vacancy that can only be filled through a by-election involving members of the Oireachtas. This means the government, with its majority, effectively decides the successful candidate.
However the by-election for her vacant seat can’t take place until a new permanent Clerk of the Dáil is appointed, according to Oireachtas rules.
The former clerk Kieran Coughlan retired last August and was replaced on an interim basis by the assistant secretary in the parliamentary services division, Peter Finnegan.
The process of appointing a permanent replacement has been delayed as the government seeks to change the law in order to have a more open competition for the role. Efforts have been under way for over a year to devise a system where people who work outside of the Oireachtas Commission are considered.
This involves changes to the Staff at the Houses of the Oireachtas Act which have been approved by government but not yet brought to the Dáil or Seanad by the Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin.
The current rules state that someone outside of the Oireachtas would only be considered if no suitable candidate was found within.
If the Ceann Comhairle and the Oireachtas Commission disagreed on a nomination the Taoiseach would nominate a person and would seek Dáil approval.
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Ahhh enda kenny dictatorship under pressure. I am sure the law will change as a result.
Yes… The new Weimar Republic is alive and well.. hiel Edna
It’s “heil”.
Did I spell ‘pedant’ right?
“Some voices” That Marie Luoise O Donnell certainly has one of those – possibly the most irritating, narcissistic person in politics.
You obviously haven’t met Eamon Coughlan
Should have got rid of that playground when we had the chance . Bacik ,norris , I mean give us a break . Nobody liked these people enough to democratically elect them so how are they entitled to a wage and pension ? Oh we can reform it don’t get rid of it .what tripe !
P- I totally disagree your opinion of David Norris , who is a tremendous asset to Civil Rights, Ireland and An Seanad .
I wish him well in his recovery, from very serious illness , presently too !
That statement can be said for most politicians . I never wished him any harm and i too hope he recovers . cancer is a dreadful disease I just find all his battles are self centred . It’s much better for a man with a quest that doesn’t involve him personally . Also lost all confidence when he purported to represent me ,an irish citizen, when asking for leniency in the case of a convicted foreign paedophile
how ironic that kenny who wanted to abolish the seanad now finds govt reps in minority…Expect another all night piss up in the dail chambers as govt rushes through another bill that suits itself……..
Another cockup by Brendan Howlin.
They need more men in the Seanad because the domestic priorities of the women are greater causing them to be absent too often and the Government cannot prevail.
Ive no problem with women in politics but if social and domestic duties take priority then they should move over and let someone else more serious about the job step up.
your informative article is undermined by the the deceptive headline
This country only gets things done under a dictatorship model.
Before the bots jump on the red thumbs, those that hope for ‘radical change’ (whatever that is meant to mean) need to see an absolute majority for their party in the future with the great bearded leader at the helm, if they want the junta that they dream of.
Johngahan – Fortunately , a huge change is coming in this Country as a whole – all 32 Counties !
A permanent end to Rightwing Dictatorships and ‘milk & watery’ pseudo Socialists.
The underlying change taking place in Ireland , which has seen SF emerge as the most popular Political Party in the whole of Ireland – edging towards the unity of hearts and minds in this Country.
Great times ahead for real Democracy Johngahan and a permanent end to fascist dictatorships coming soon !
“This country only gets things done under a dictatorship model.”
Were you doing the traditional YFG salute when you typed that?
http://www.lookleftonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Female-Blueshirts.jpg
Strange that, in your usual bid to turn every story about FG into something about SF, all you’ve managed to do was remind us of your own partys fascist roots, and your leaders recent ‘little dictator’ hissy fits.
You two are like the grumpy old men from the muppet show.
And you Johngahan , try hopelessly to clone Dr Goebbels on these threads – Do you wear your Blueshirt every day too ?
You are an anachronism ciara.
You talk incessantly of the great ‘change’ yet none of it makes any sense.
Blueshirts vs black balaclavas, semtex, gaddafi, kneecappings, racketeering, intimidation, sectarian racism, abductions, executions, drugdealing: why do you prefer to live in that yesterworld?
Johngahan – poor garsun – stuck in the years of Blueshirts in pre Good Friday Agreement prior to 1997 – you Unionist Irishmen just always hated The GFA – didn’t you ?
John it’s funny you mention gaddafi he tried to destabilise the US dollar by starting to trade oil only for gold, then he was killed,wonder why??
Where is the reform promised when we all went to the polls to keep or abolish the Seanad…
I voted to abolish it but may wanted it kept so it could be reformed. I don’t recall anyone claiming it was fit for purpose as it is
Good question where is the reform.Answer gathering dust on some book ledge in the Oireachtas.The current government Senators were all for reform in the referendum.Now no.I can’t understand how the electorate fell for the idea this body would act as a check on the government .No way.Senators earn 65,000 euro a year.Their expenses are unreal,Three senators from my area are claiming nearly. 3,000 euro a month for travel to the Oireahtas for a journey of 100 miles round trip.Some other miscelenious costs are included for the 3,000 euro but they are minor.The Seanad should have been abolished and let the Senators go back to their real jobs.
I know he in the free state condemn the one time regional administration in the six counties, 1922 71 but, at least the wholly undemocratic franchise there was done away with in 1969, while the snobs in the state maintain it to keep their snouts filled.
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