Independent Senator Michael McDowell has urged independent supporters of the forthcoming government to pressure for eased restrictions on Ireland’s party whip system and the introduction of Seanad reform. The Senator highlighted that the party whip system currently used by the significant political parties is among Europe’s harshest, and there is no progression on Seanad reform despite government commission reports advocating universal suffrage for senator elections.
While addressing the Daniel O’Connell lecture in Cahersiveen in Co Kerry, McDowell noted that if the forecasts of independent TDs supporting the next government following the upcoming general election are correct, these TDs need to demand a lessening of Ireland’s stern whip culture and the fulfilment of promised Seanad reform.
During his speech on the inaugural day of the 11th annual Daniel O’Connell Summer School, McDowell put forward that the Oireachtas was falling short in its responsibilities as the legislature of the Independent Irish State. He pointed out the defeat of two referendums early this year as proof.
According to McDowell, the public’s rejection of enlarging the constitutional definition of family and altering a phrase regarding women’s domestic role shows that “the parliamentary process that presented both bills to the Irish citizens for their consideration was severely flawed.”
He claimed both bills suggesting changes to the Constitution were hastily pushed through the two Chambers of the Oireachtas, leaving no time for thorough discussion, amendments, or for members of the Oireachtas to fully understand the potential consequences of the suggested constitutional changes.
McDowell criticised the lack of preliminary legislative examination of the suggestions and claimed this was due to a fundamental issue in Irish politics, which is the overwhelming power of the Irish executive, the Government, over the members of our nationally elected parliament.
The former attorney general remarked on the rampant dominance in Ireland’s parliamentary process, considered one of the harshest in free democratic nations worldwide, comparing it to a whip system. Despite his personal advocacy for the Repeal of the Eighth Amendment, granting allowance for abortion under specific conditions, Mr McDowell expresses his disgust at the mistreatment of political party members opposed to the referendum.
His disapproval lies within the unpleasant and disgraceful ways members of the Dáil Éireann who disagreed with his views were ostracised from their parties, leading to the abrupt end of their political careers, merely for standing firm on their personal convictions. In his words, the refusal of the system to acknowledge conscientious objectors’ principles and beliefs without jeopardising their political progression was puzzling, considering they weren’t elected on the premise of supporting the repeal of the Eighth Amendment.
Mr McDowell further questioned why, in comparison to their counterparts in Westminster parliament or the Bundestag, party members in Ireland’s parliament lacked similar freedoms. He mentioned the German constitution’s specific prohibition on forcing parliamentarians to vote against their conscience.
While he recognises the necessity of a certain level of party discipline for effective governance, which requires most of the Dáil Éireann members to conform daily, he questioned why greater respect could not be provided to the personal convictions of Irish parliament members.