In recent events, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has declared the Government’s suggestion for Seanad’s electoral reform to be the most significant in many decades. Nonetheless, the subsequent stages of the proposed Law have been slated to be concluded in two mere hours this week by the Government. This timeframe must encompass the exhaustive review and discussion of the legislation by approximately 57 senators. This includes suggesting and discussing variants, voting on changes, and offering the final word on the proposed law.
Moreover, the proposed Bill as it stands today would conflict with the Irish Constitution. It aims to swap the byelection process with a list system to address Seanad vacancies. This is contrary to the constitutional mandate that all six senatorial positions involved need to be elected.
If the Bill passes through the Seanad this week without changes, and the Dáil subsequently fails to rectify it, the President will likely have to refer it to the Supreme Court for a likely dismissal. This would precipitate a constitutional crisis as the deadline for changing the current electoral system for the Seanad in May 2025 approaches.
The Government must exercise responsibility at this critical juncture. It’s imperative for it to align any proposed legislation with the Constitution and not to expedite matters to muffle any opposition. The proposed change aims to curtail the voting rights in Seanad elections to university graduates – a move that would disenfranchise the wider public.
Best regards,
Tomás Heneghan,
East Wall,
Dublin 3.