Statement: Bacik speaks on Seanad reform at conference to celebrate the constitution

STATEMENT BY SENATOR IVANA BACIK

Labour Party Seanad leader and Spokesperson on Justice

Friday 29th June 2012

BACIK SPEAKS ON SEANAD REFORM AT CONFERENCE TO CELEBRATE THE CONSTITUTION

Senator Ivana Bacik will speak tomorrow Saturday 30th June at a conference taking place in the King's Inns, Dublin, hosted by the UCD School of Law to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Constitution.

Speaking in a session on the constitutional role of the Seanad, Senator Bacik will say tomorrow:

“I believe there is a role within our parliamentary system for an Upper House in order to provide enhanced oversight of government business and also to provide a forum for more considered and thoughtful debates than those which can take place in the Dail, particularly on matters of social policy. The Seanad can and does make a significant contribution to legislative business, particularly during Committee stage debates.

“However, in order to make the case for retention of the Seanad, significant reforms must be made to its procedures, and to its composition and method of election. The question of fundamental Seanad reform or abolition should also only be considered in the context of wider parliamentary reforms. It would not be wise to abolish one of the two Houses of the Oireachtas without examining how best the other should be reformed so as to ensure adequate parliamentary oversight within the system overall.”

ENDS