Seanad Éireann Contribution to Irish Politics

The Seanads contribution to Irish politics has been for many years a topical issue.  However the current government’s plan to abolish the upper house of the Oireachtas has caused considerable debate not only among the electorate but also the political establishment.  There are many arguments that can be made to support the view that the Seanad has contributed to Irish politics, some of which are covered in this blog.  The following topics are covered in the blog

·        Some of Irelands greatest politicians sat in the Seanad,

·        Senators nominated to cabinet,

·        The Seanads involvement in establishing the Foreign Affairs committee,

·        Seanad not being utilized,

·        Seanad a target for populist politicians,

·        Senators have started great campaigns,

·        Reform of the Seanad.

 Evaluation of the main points of this essay not only shows the Seanads contribution to Irish politics but also how the abolishment of Seanad Éireann would be a serious mistake.

Some of Irelands greatest politicians have previously sat in Seanad Éireann.  Since the Seanads re-establishment under the 1937 constitution of Ireland (Know your parliament a guide to the houses of the Oireachtas) it has held centre stage to some of Ireland’s best and most colourful politicians.  During Mary Robinson’s time in the Seanad she campaigned for women’s rights and making contraception legally available (Mary Robinson, first female president of Ireland, 2010). Mary Robinson would not have been in a positions to highlight these important issues if she sat in the Daíl.  I believe this clearly shows that the Seanad has in fact contributed to Irish politics.  It could also be argued that without the Seanad Mary Robinson might not have gone on to become President or U.N Highcommisioner for human rights.  Michael D. Higgins was first nominated to the Seanad in 1973 by then Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave.  During his time in the Seanad he opposed President Reagans visit to Ireland and was hugely critical of the Fine Gael government in the 1980s describing them as an “enormous conservative force”. (One of our finest citizens become first citizen, with a vision dedicated to renewing the republic, 2011). This shows clearly that past members of the Seanad have played no small part in its contribution to Irish politics. 

It is a little known fact that under article 28 section seven of the constitution of Ireland a maximum of two members can be nominated to cabinet. (Constitution of Ireland, 2011).Seanads contribution to Irish politics could have been greater if previous governments took advantage of this privilege.  Prof Jim Dooge was the last Senator appointed to an Irish cabinet.  Despite the fact that he was not nominated to Garret Fitzgerald’s second Cabinet (1982-1987) he had a major role to play in a report on improving E.E.C cooperation in 1984. (Tributes pour in for former minister and top academic, 2010).  Prof Dooge would not have been in a position to do this if he was elected to the Daíl due to the constraints of constituency work. I believe this proves the Seanads contribution to Irish politics because it gave Jim Dooge a political platform.  I believe the current government should give the Seanad an opportunity to contribute to Irish politics, by nominating two Senators to cabinet. 

The joint committee on Foreign Affairs has not only contributed too politics but also contributed in promoting Irelands foreign policy priorities. (Role of joint Committee on Foreign Affairs). The Foreign Affairs committee would not be in a position to do this without the help of the Seanad.  The current President of Ireland and former Labour Senator Michael D. Higgins lobbied successfully for the establishment of an Oireachtas Foreign Affairs committee (One of our finest citizens become first citizen, with a vision dedicated to renewing the republic, 2011).  Today the committee plays a critical role in the organisation of the Irish Economic Forum which brings together successful Irish people from home and abroad. (Role of joint Committee on Foreign Affairs). It is worth highlighting that without the Seanad and the Foreign Affairs committee, Ireland would not have been in a position to attract some of the Business World’s most successful people.  I firmly believe this highlights the Seanads contribution to Irish politics. 

The Seanads contribution to Irish politics has been immense, but the fact still remains that it is not being used to its full potential.  In March 2002 the Oireachtas set up an all-party committee for the Constitution.  The committee recommended that the method that elects Senators should be changed with 48 elected from lists; it also raised the possibility of giving the Seanad additional powers. (Coakely & Gallagher, 2010).  I believe the political establishment would not be in such a volatile position if the 2002 reforms were acted upon.  It is worth asking the question how many times in recent years have the Seanad rejected a government bill?  The last time the Seanad rejected a government bill was in July 1964. (Coakely & Gallagher, 2010)  The reason for this being that under article 18 section one of the Constitution of Ireland “11 members shall be nominated”. (Constitution of Ireland, 2011).  This ensures governments always have a majority in the Seanad.  The Seanads contribution to Irish politics could be greater if was not for successive governments failing to utilize it to its full potential.

In recent years the Seanad has become the target for populist party policy.  A perfect example of this is the current governments plan to abolish the Seanad in the constitutional convention to be held this year.  I believe the question the electorate of Ireland should be asking the government is “why are you examining abolishment before reform examining reform”.  Thankfully the youth wing of main opposition party in Ireland has stood up to this populist political belief.  Ógra Fianna Fáil firmly believes that there is a place in Ireland for a reformed and relevant Seanad. (Ógra Fianna Fáil 2011).  I fully agree with this view, because it is my belief that the only way the Seanad can make a contribution to Irish Politics is by being relevant.  I sincerely hope the uphill battle facing those populist politicians  not only to abolish the Seanad but to remove it from the constitution altogether , will give both the electorate and the media something to talk about in the coming weeks and months. 

The Seanad has not only contributed to Irish politics in the area of legislation but also in giving Senators a platform to campaign for important issues.  Shane Ross has led many high profile campaigns including a shareholders revolt at Éircom.  The Seanad gave Shane Ross a platform to fight on behalf of those thousands of ordinary people who lost money in Éircom.  He not only led campaigns against the M50 toll bridge but he also called for the clean-up of the banks long before anyone else. (About Shane, 2012).  Senator Mark Daly has recently secured €200,000 in lottery funding for the cystic fibrosis unit in University Hospital Cork. (200,000 of lottery funding for cystic fibrosis).  This not only underlines the Seanads contribution to politics but also to Irish life.  Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has begun lobbying for an examination of blasphemy laws in Ireland as a result of an Indonesian Civil Servant who is facing charges of Blasphemy for writing on Facebook “god doesn’t exist”. (Two Senators support Alexander Aon in Indonesian blasphemy case, 2012). Independent Senator David Norris has led many campaigns in the past most notably his victorious European court case in 1988.  Today David Norris leads a campaign for a push towards civil marriage for gay people. (David Norris, 2011)  This clearly shows that politicians do a lot more than apply for medical cards and because of this you cannot argue against the fact that the Seanad has made a contribution to Irish politics. 

I strongly and firmly believe that the Seanads contribution to Irish politics could be greater if reformed.  In the Constitution of Ireland under article 18 section four it allows six Senators to be elected from colleges, three from the national colleges and a further three Senators from Trinity College Dublin. (Constitution of Ireland, 2011).  I believe every graduate of third level institutions should be entitled to a vote in the next Seanad election.  I also believe that when the four technological universities are formed they should be given a panel where its graduates can elect Senators to represent them in Seanad Éireann.  Despite the fact that the government parties Fine Gael and Labour have pledged to abolish the Seanad, Órga Fianna Faíl have come up with a proposal that if implanted could radically reform the Seanad.  They propose that Senators would be elected from National panels with elections staggered so that there was a turnover of third of seats every two years.(Ógra Fianna Faíl 2011).  Seanad Éireann is currently at a cross roads and the road that should be taken is the road of reform and not the road of abolishment.