Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Staff sorting through ballot boxes for the Seanad count in March Rollingnews.ie

Senators to seek High Court determination if Taoiseach won't set date for next Seanad sitting

A group of 10 Senators have written to Leo Varadkar urging action two months after the Seanad elections have concluded.

A GROUP OF 10 Senators have written to the Taoiseach seeking a date for the first sitting of the new Seanad, without the Taoiseach’s 11 nominees, to allow vital legislation be passed.

The group – which includes Labour’s six Senators and a number of independents – have said they will apply to the High Court for a determination if Leo Varadkar is not willing to advise the president to fix a date for the next Seanad sitting.

Although the Seanad election has been completed, 11 Senators must be chosen by the Taoiseach to complete the 60 seats and there have been concerns that legislation could not be passed without a full complement of senators in place.

The Ceann Comhairle Sean Ó Fearghaíl has previously wrote about his concerns in a letter where he said based on legal advice “it is not possible for the current Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD to make the eleven nominations”. 

It is believed that the next Taoiseach will appoint these nominees, but talks on government formation between the Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens have not yet concluded after several weeks of negotiations.

The group of 10 Senators have said it is urgent that the Seanad sits so that vital legislation can be passed.

Labour’s Ivana Bacik said: “It is our understanding and belief that in the present situation the elected members of the Seanad can meet and legislate, and that the Oireachtas, as our national parliament, exists as a whole and is not debarred from functioning constitutionally as a legislature by the delay in the Dáil’s nomination of a Taoiseach or the delay in nomination of a further eleven senators.

It is now over two months since the Seanad elections concluded, and longer since the Dáil general election, and government formation talks continue with no clear end point.
Our democratic assembly should not be frozen from legislating and there is a looming deadline of the end of June for the review and renewal of certain provisions under the Offences Against the State Acts.

If Varadkar does not set a date, the Senators said they will take the matter to the High Court.

The ten signatories are Senators Ivana Bacik, Victor Boyhan, Gerard Craughwell, Annie Hoey, Sharon Keogan, Michael McDowell, Rebecca Moynihan, Ronan Mullen, Marie Sherlock, Mark Wall.

Bacik added: “This is an unlikely political alliance but we have come together on this point of law as it is our belief that legal clarification is required on our status.”

You can read the letter here

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
13 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Luke Lee
    Favourite Luke Lee
    Report
    Jun 6th 2020, 12:30 PM

    Leo’s too busy watching Netflix doing research for his next speech .

    103
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ☘
    Favourite ☘
    Report
    Jun 6th 2020, 12:43 PM

    Abolish it

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Power
    Favourite Paul Power
    Report
    Jun 6th 2020, 12:51 PM

    @☘: they tried.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Kearon
    Favourite Stephen Kearon
    Report
    Jun 6th 2020, 1:13 PM

    @☘: we had a referendum in 2013 and the people voted not to abolish the Seanad

    22
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aidan O' Neill
    Favourite Aidan O' Neill
    Report
    Jun 6th 2020, 3:04 PM

    @Stephen Kearon: there was massive Seanad reform planned and agreed though. Never happened. I think it’s important to have a 2nd house but all members should be elected by the public.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute D Mems
    Favourite D Mems
    Report
    Jun 6th 2020, 4:05 PM

    @Aidan O’ Neill: what would be the difference between the Dail and the Senate in your model?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Logan Shepherd
    Favourite Logan Shepherd
    Report
    Jun 6th 2020, 12:38 PM

    ‘In the end, it’s only a passing thing this shadow, even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines, it’ll shine out the clearer.’ 
    J.R.R Tolkien “Lord of the rings” Leo Varadkar “Phase 2 Announcement”

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul
    Favourite Paul
    Report
    Jun 6th 2020, 12:46 PM

    @Logan Shepherd: if they are gonna quote films they may as well use the best!

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Logan Shepherd
    Favourite Logan Shepherd
    Report
    Jun 6th 2020, 1:01 PM

    @Paul: True, certainly better than all the buzz words. I wish he had credited Tolkien though.

    19
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gareth
    Favourite Gareth
    Report
    Jun 7th 2020, 6:19 AM

    @Logan Shepherd: Leo credits no one but himself, the swine.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Mc
    Favourite Paul Mc
    Report
    Jun 6th 2020, 1:24 PM

    Does anyone other than Labour quislings listen to Bacik?

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fionn Darland
    Favourite Fionn Darland
    Report
    Jun 6th 2020, 3:12 PM

    Once I saw Ronan Mullen’s name as a signatory I am against whatever this group are for!

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute D Mems
    Favourite D Mems
    Report
    Jun 6th 2020, 4:07 PM

    Well if the Dail has been allowed to sit over the years with various seats vacant and awaiting by-elections without creating a constitutional crisis I can see the grounds for the Senators query as to why they can sit whist in effect also waiting for a by-election of sorts

    9
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds