Government wants to abolish Senate, Irish upper house

eiriamach: "They say Ireland is crawling with absentee landlords". and there are many more shocking links to Britain that it would surprise the Irish soul. ........... @philib04: the Seanad is just one of a litany of institutions alive and well and operation in Ireland based on the British Model. Ireland gained its independence, then kept everything the same but just changed the name over the door!

the seanad is a throwback to the house of lords. the irish people should have an opportunity to vote on eliminating this debating society.

Owie, Towngate! The Irish government rents space from an absentee landlord-- living where? --In London? The historical symbolism is a bit much for me; I'm sitting down now. . . . Thanks for the info. I'm going to try to forget I ever asked about renting out that room (not that I could ever afford to rent it anyway).

EIRIAMACH: You better sit down for this: The Irish Government Buldings - Leinster House - belongs to a Private Landlord and his Rent is paid for Irelands use of his Property to ... LONDON!

I hope they do not miss the opportunity. Governments rarely allow a vote to make themselves smaller and less expensive. Anyway, the photo above shows a gorgeous Seanad meeting room, color-coordinated leather seats and carpet/drapes, Waterford chandeliers, polished wood, etc. Is there room for dancing? I'll bet the government could rent out that room to those they've raised to millionaire status with mis-spent millions. They could charge thousands of Euro an hour for wedding parties, anniversaries, or other shindigs. It would help pay the maintenance on government buildings, I'd expect.

New Zeland did away with their upper house back in the 50's and have survived quite well without it, using only a house of representatives. Seems to be a good way to save Ireland quite a bit of money...so why not do it?

Good move..Good start anyway,but will it happen.

I said in the future predictions article that the Seanad will be abolished.Just have to wait and see.

(..Cont’d) These Senators (yes, they should retain the Title, to distinguish them from the rabble TDs) can make up for empty seats of absentee TDs and contribute more intelligently and pro-actively to Dáil debates on issues of national importance. After all, most of them are hugely more qualified, educated, experienced and sensible than most elected TDs – gombeen ones. One more thing: no new Senator shall be an ex- TD who was voted out/lost a Dáil seat by choice of the electorate. That would put paid to cronyism.

I think it would be a good idea to scrap the relatively powerless 60-person Seanad Éireann. Instead, I suggest that 60 of Dáil Éireann seats be reserved for most of those who would otherwise be Senators under the old system and that they are incorporated by nomination into the Dáil, based solely on legal, business and academic acumen and, as far as possible, not political party-orientated. I do not agree that the post of Uachtarán na hÉireann should be abolished as it has, alongside the Council of State, much to do in matters of legal consideration on behalf of the people, pobal na hÉireann. (More...)

WELL SAID - all comments. Dump all the Senate.Reduce the Dail to ONE TD per Constituancy, and give the laughable 'Honours',Jobs and Money-laden so-called Presidentwho polishes her British Passport in the Vice-Regal Lodge - The Official Residence and symbol of British Authority in Ireland. I hope this year is the one when the People of Ireland at last realise that "...someone has been rightly pulling their Plonker!!"

Who do they think they are kidding, Fianna Fail? Its to late to try and win the people back, why didn't they reform the Senate and Dail when they had the chance? Because they didn't want to upset the "jobs for the boys" syndrome that they are well noted for!!!

They ought to get rid of the office of President also. The current loudmouth fool McAleese has shown what a waste of money it is. She has been in office well over a decade now. Can anyone name one thing that she has achieved, aside from getting rich?

Neither the Senate nor the Dail has devoted ONE MINUTE to discussing Mass Immigration since Fianna Fail instituted that policy over a decade ago.

If Ireland shuts down the existing courts and set up a new court system we could put all corrupt politicians and their friends in jail. Ireland is a country that could do with a complete face lift and get rid of the corrupt dinosaurs who have been running Ireland for far too long.