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19/10/2009
Seanad 'Should Be Abolished' - Fine Gael
Democracy remains at the heart of the political process in Ireland – even though there has been a call to abolish the Upper House.
The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, has said that he believes the country needs to maintain its democratic institutions and that democratic accountability was more important than ever.
Responding to the Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny's call that the Seanad should be abolished and the number of TDs cut by at least 20, Mr Cowen said he would support the idea of reforming and improving democratic institutions.
But, he said it would be the job of the independent electoral commission to look at this area objectively and said that such a body is to be established as part of the reviewed programme for government.
On Saturday, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that his party, in government, would hold a referendum to abolish the Seanad with Labour's Justice Spokesperson Pat Rabbitte reported as agreeing there is a great deal of merit to Fine Gael's proposal.
Mr Rabbitte said the upper house of the Oireachtas had not been performing, but said it did have a small number of outstanding senators.
In addition, the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, has said he does not see a role for the Seanad in its present form and said the electoral system needed to be "made more relevant".
(BMcC/KMcA)
The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, has said that he believes the country needs to maintain its democratic institutions and that democratic accountability was more important than ever.
Responding to the Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny's call that the Seanad should be abolished and the number of TDs cut by at least 20, Mr Cowen said he would support the idea of reforming and improving democratic institutions.
But, he said it would be the job of the independent electoral commission to look at this area objectively and said that such a body is to be established as part of the reviewed programme for government.
On Saturday, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that his party, in government, would hold a referendum to abolish the Seanad with Labour's Justice Spokesperson Pat Rabbitte reported as agreeing there is a great deal of merit to Fine Gael's proposal.
Mr Rabbitte said the upper house of the Oireachtas had not been performing, but said it did have a small number of outstanding senators.
In addition, the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, has said he does not see a role for the Seanad in its present form and said the electoral system needed to be "made more relevant".
(BMcC/KMcA)
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