Poll shows Irish public want to abolish the government’s Seanad

" Urban and rural deputies to people's congresses are now elected on the basis of the same population ratio. Community-level democracy has steadily developed. The socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics has been established, and notable achievements have been made in building a socialist country based on the rule of law." Hu Jintao from his report to the 18th Congress of the Peoples Party

I can't wait to abolish it. Voting to get rid of any Irish politicians will be the only thing since 1922 that will give the people any satisfaction. After the Seanad we should get rid of the Dail, the President, Lord Mayor's and all the councils as well. Then we only have to hire consultants since that's all our stupid potato headed politicians do anyway.

paolipete, you thought wrong. I said what I meant to say (in this particular instance). However, I have no problem dumping the Senate for the Peoples House. Of course, I would add the 100 seats to the House. The artificial number of House seats is absurd. The U.S. has grown and the House has not kept up with that growth. I also change House districts so that they are equal in population. Small states would simply share their seat. Does that make you happy now, pete?

Not only does the Irish working class subsidise the third level education of an overpriviliged elite, but then pays them hansomely for representing their own vested interests. The election of Seanadoirs/Senators is restricted to graduates of the more academic universitites (TCD and NUI's), with graduates of the more technical institutes excluded in a blinding display of institutional egotism. Why should a class of people who never saw the inside of such universities pay the generous salaries, allowances and pensions of such dignified functionaries. It's an abomination and obscenity, I say! Down with these overprivileged hangers-on. Let them eat fast food, and address the downtrodden masses from a orange box in Saint Stephen's Green for a change. Bloody blighters!

philib04: I think what you meant to say was "The U S Senate is a holdover from British colonial rule, the U S version of the House of Lords. Rid America of this colonial trapping". !!

Remove it yeasteday.

The Seanad is a holdover from British colonial rule, the Irish version of the House of Lords. Rid Ireland of this colonial trapping.

You can remove this "chamber" which will save time and money. Yet the problems in our governments come from us. If we want to see the problems all we have to do is look in the mirror. Likewise if we want to see the solutions to our problems the mirrored reflection gives us the answers. The only question is our resolve to take a stand and hold to it, accountability for who we elect and our own willingness to look outside our political comfort zone for a workable solution. Here's to a New Year full of hope, Slainte!