Private colleges are set for exclusion from a new law that will broaden voting rights in Seanad elections beyond graduates of Dublin’s Trinity College and the National University of Ireland (NUI), according to the Local Government Minister, Darragh O’Brien. Certain institutions such as the National College of Ireland, Griffith College and Dublin Business School might not be encompassed by the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024. This legislation aims to grant voting privileges to graduates from specified higher education organisations for the first time.
Publicly funded technological universities and other third-degree institutions will earn the privilege to elect university senators in the subsequent general election following the enactment of the necessary legislation, about 45 years after its original approval via referendum. A Supreme Court case launched by a former University of Limerick student in the previous year challenged the delay in acting on the 1979 referendum result, resulting in a mandate for the Government to overhaul university panels by next May.
Mr O’Brien presented the legislation in the Seanad on Thursday, categorising it as an earnest bid to commence the reform of the Seanad and comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling. Several members, including Independent Trinity College Senator Tom Clonan, mentioned the potential inadvertent exclusion of private and independent colleges from the franchise.
Yet, Mr. O’Brien verified that the bill would not incorporate this aspect, though he declared that any proposed amendments would be viewed constructively. The absence of these institutions led to strong criticism during the Minister’s House attendance, with the bill being branded as “minimalist”, “a disgrace” and “an insult”, as it restrictively maintains the Seanad in its current state.
The proposed legislation will merge the two triple-seat university panels into a solitary six-seat constituency with a vastly broadened electorate. A prospective candidate would require the endorsement of 60 registered college electorate members and would be required to make a deposit of €1,800, a considerable jump from the existing €500 fee.
The European Parliament’s candidate replacement system will also be implemented in the event of casual vacancies, a case similar to what transpired when former senator David Norris stepped down after serving for 35 years, which occurred in January and did not necessitate a byelection. A byelection, on the other hand, was projected to cost around €500,000.
NUI holds the central authority to maintain the elector register.
Senator Malcolm Byrne from Fianna Fáil inquired whether the introduction of a list system for casual vacancies within the university panel was an indication that the Minister’s department might be contemplating it for the Dáil, Seanad, and in a broader context.
Rónán Mullen, an independent NUI Senator, stated that if the government was serious about modernising, adopting the principle that each citizen should have a Seanad vote would be a wise move.
Sinn Féin Senator Fintan Warfield expressed his party’s fundamental belief that the public should elect the majority of the Seanad, including Irish citizens in the North and abroad.
Independent Trinity Senator Alice Mary Higgins criticised the bill as being the “most limited proposal that the government had to put forward because the Supreme Court required it to do so.”
Finally, Independent NUI Senator Michael McDowell argued that the bill was poorly written and could lead to serious issues.