Statement: Senator Bacik Will Speak on Future of Seanad at TCD Seminar

STATEMENT BY SENATOR IVANA BACIK

Labour Party Seanad leader and Spokesperson on Justice

Tuesday 27th March 2012

SENATOR BACIK SPEAKS ON FUTURE OF THE SEANAD AT TRINITY COLLEGE SEMINAR

Senator Ivana Bacik will speak this evening at a seminar hosted by the Department of Classics at Trinity College Dublin on the topic ‘Seanad Eireann in the 21st Century'. The other speakers include Regius Professor of Greek Brian McGing who will speak on the Senate in Classical times; and Professors Ciaran Brady and Eunan O'Halpin,

Speaking at the seminar this evening, Senator Bacik will say:

“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. It is also very helpful in the debate on retention of an upper house to consider the history not only of our own Seanad, but also of Senates in other legal and political systems.”

ENDS