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SIX FORMER MEMBERS of the Seanad have called for reform rather than abolition of the upper house as part of an informal campaign for a public debate on the issue.
Former minister Mary O’Rourke, renowned former civil servant TK Whitaker, former SDLP leader Bríd Rodgers, former Northern Ireland Ombudsman Maurice Hayes, historian John A Murphy and former Trinity senator Mary Henry have co-signed a letter in today’s Irish Times.
The letter calls for the reform of the Seanad’s electoral law which would allow citizens to be more directly involved in who is elected to the second house of the Oireachtas.
It claims that straightforward abolition would require more than 70 separate amendments to the Constitution including deletion of some articles:
While it is true that there has been justifiable public dissatisfaction with the effects of party political dominance in the Seanad, and while it is also true that reform of the Seanad has been more spoken about than acted on, we believe that a serious reform of the Seanad done in time to take effect from the next general election would be greatly preferable to simple abolition entailing, as that would, more than 70 separate amendments to the Constitution including the deletion of entire articles.
The government has committed to holding a referendum on whether or not to abolish the Seanad but has already pushed back on a date for the referendum having initially pledged to do so before the end of 2012.
It now looks likely that a referendum will not be held until next year.
The letter from the six former senators is reported to have come at the urging of an informal group that is considering how to forge a campaign to reform the Seanad rather than abolish it.
The Irish Times reports that former justice minister Michael McDowell, former senator and ICTU president Joe O’Toole, political commentator Noel Whelan and current senators Feargal Quinn and Katherine Zappone are behind the campaign.
In their letter on page 15 of the paper today, the six former members of the Seanad write: “We believe that if the Seanad’s electoral system were reformed, it could add to the standing of democratic politics in the eyes of the people and to the effectiveness of the Oireachtas.
“We would welcome, and indeed urge, a considered, inclusive and informed public debate on the Seanad, its functions and its reform, before consideration of any constitutional proposal for its abolition.”
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With only nine per cent of the street lamps being ornate, it means that DCC really don’t care about the finishing touches to or streets. Example: Stephen’s green along the Loretto stretch has fantastic architecture, but shitty looking Motorway style street lights. This is lazy and careless planning. Why not take the ornate lampposts from in front of the office blocks on Earlsfort terrace and put them on the Green, or if that’s too expensive, then get replica lamp posts for that stretch of street.
Street furniture in our key streets really should be looked at in more detail. Finishing touches to or streets, if done right can make residents feel better about their city.
What about the five lamps ?.
@itzme: go hang your bollocks on them !
@Ian Holmes: he he. Was waiting for that.
Looks lovely, clean up Dublin though and then I’ll go have a look, brought my kids into town to see the crimbo lights, two drunks kicked head off each other on packed Luas then saw a junkie on ground blood everywhere, her boyfriend saying sorry her shouting f/off, after 10 minutes my 10 year old with tears in her eyes asked why we have to see that just to see some lights, got a taxi home, never ever again
@Jeni Moriarty: never a story about Dublin without junkies blah blah blah.this is a story about street lamps and you have to shoehorn in the usual ‘i was in Dublin recently’ nonsense.
Loads of the old ones have been replaced, and been replaced badly when they could easily have been preserved. This article is mishearing. The corporation’s efforts to salvage and promote this little bit of Dublin character is pathetic as usual. There is a nice display of various old ones in Merrion square that look original.
That one on Fr Matthew Square is a real gem
Most of us genuine Dubs have pissed up against at least one of them
The one with the overhead tram cables hanging of them are lovely.
Have any of them been repainted in the past 5 years?
Last time I walked around the Customs house, the lamp standards were a mucky disgrace, & as for Bus Arus, the one time architectural gem has declined into a slum like appearance.
Don’t know who in the octopus of state bodies is responsible, but it seems nonsensical to spend tax money promoting tourism, when simple maintenance is neglected.
have your say