Bruton Announces Party's Parliamentary Party Team

Minister Richard Bruton, Fine Gael's Director of Elections for the Seanad Abolition Referendum, has announced the Party's parliamentary party team for the Referendum campaign.

Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has been appointed as Fine Gael’s Deputy Director of Elections.

Minister Bruton said: "The public will have an opportunity later this year to vote Yes to abolish the Seanad. I believe the choice will be a simple one; do we want to:

• Reduce the number of national politicians by 30%

• Save €20 million per year which can be spent on other important services, • Bring Ireland in to line with nearly every other small progressive democracy like Sweden and Denmark.

"In all walks of Irish life, families and businesses are having to do more with less and I believe politics should show that it can do the same. That’s why it is timely now to give the people the chance to make that decision. I have assembled a strong team within the Fine Gael parliamentary party to co-ordinate a national campaign aimed at explaining to the Irish people why we believe our politics should change and how we can save scarce resources for other vital services by voting to abolish the Seanad.

"Almost no other country of our size has two separate chambers of parliament. Progressive small countries like Denmark and Sweden have shown that they can have a better democracy at less cost with single chamber parliaments. This is the time to make that change in Ireland too, and put the money where it is most needed.

"Those opposing the Referendum will claim that the Seanad should be retained and reformed. But the reality is that attempts to reform the Seanad in the past have failed. Ten reports have been published on reforming the Seanad, and yet we still have the same undemocratic, ineffective Upper House. Those who call for reform now want the 75 year search for a purpose for this ineffective institution to continue. In practice, those who refused to change the Seanad over so many years that are now saying ‘reform rather than abolish’ really mean ‘more of the same’. I am not persuaded by their new found appetite for reform and believe that the Irish public will see these belated calls for reform for what they are.

"Fine Gael will run an energetic campaign, with a strong focus on public meetings and digital media to communicate the message that the Seanad is not working, and it's a luxury that we can no longer afford. Abolishing the Seanad would save about €100 million over a five year Dáil term; that’s a considerable amount of money which could be spent on public services like schools and hospitals."

(CD)