Ireland has voted on Friday Oct 5,2013 in a referendum on whether to back Prime Minister Enda
Kenny's proposal to abolish Seanad,upper house of
parliament(Oireachtas)
An electorate of 3.1 million people in the Republic of Ireland voted in a referendum on whether or not to consign the Seanad, the Senate or Upper House of the Irish Parliament, to the dustbin of history
The Referendum was to determine two constitutional issues -
The Irish Parliament is Bi-cameral -
Government
Government
Ireland’s Oireachtas comprises the President and two Houses, namely, Dail Ereann (House of Representatives) and Seanad Eireann (the Senate)
The President, whose functions are largely ceremonial, is directly elected for a period of seven years.
The Dail Ereann is elected every five years via a system of proportional representation. It elects the Prime Minister, the Taoiseach (pronounced tee shock).
Of its 60 members, 11 are appointed by the Prime Minister; six elected by graduates of Irish universities; and the remaining 43 elected from five panels of nominees by an electorate consisting of parliamentarians and local councillors.
Opinion polls say voters will likely back the plans to scrap the Seanad(Upper House)proposed by Prime Minister Enda Kenny
The cost-saving proposals comes after Dublin was forced to accept an EU/IMF bailout in late 2010, with many blaming the country's politicians for failing to properly manage
PM Enda Kenny pointed out that other European Union nations had scrapped their upper houses without any negative effect on their democracies.
"Other small countries like Sweden and Denmark have clearly shown that single chamber parliaments not only cost less but they work much more effectively and with far greater transparency," he said.
It was claimed that abolishing Seanad,the upper house will save 20 million euros (USD 27 million)
The ruling coalition of the centre-right Fine Gael and the Irish Labour party is backing the case for abolition of the Seanad, while the main opposition party Fianna Fail is against it
Opponents of PM Enda Kenny's plans admit the 60-member upper house in its current form does not work but have said it should be reformed rather than closed
Irish Vote to Retain Irish Senate
Total turnout in the election was higher than expected at nearly 40%.
The referendum to establish a Court of Appeal has been passed by a majority of almost two to one.
The official result shows just over 65% of voters were in favour of establishing the court.
An electorate of 3.1 million people in the Republic of Ireland voted in a referendum on whether or not to consign the Seanad, the Senate or Upper House of the Irish Parliament, to the dustbin of history
The Referendum was to determine two constitutional issues -
- to retain or abolish the Seanad
- whether or not to create a court of appeal between the Supreme Court and High Court of Ireland
The Irish Parliament is Bi-cameral -
- Dail Ereann (House of Representatives) with 166 Members and
- Fine Gael (69)
- Labour Party (33)
- Fianna Fáil (19)
- Sinn Féin (14)
- People Before Profit (1)
- Socialist Party (1)
- WUAG (1)
- Independents (27)
- Ceann Comhairle (1)
- Seanad Eireann (Senate)with 60 Members
Government
- Fine Gael (19)
- Labour Party (11)
- Fianna Fáil (14)
- Sinn Féin (3)
- Independents (13)
Ireland’s Oireachtas comprises the President and two Houses, namely, Dail Ereann (House of Representatives) and Seanad Eireann (the Senate)
The President, whose functions are largely ceremonial, is directly elected for a period of seven years.
The Dail Ereann is elected every five years via a system of proportional representation. It elects the Prime Minister, the Taoiseach (pronounced tee shock).
Of its 60 members, 11 are appointed by the Prime Minister; six elected by graduates of Irish universities; and the remaining 43 elected from five panels of nominees by an electorate consisting of parliamentarians and local councillors.
The Seanad can scrutinise, amend and delay bills that originate in the
Lower House, but it cannot block them. It can initiate non-financial
bills, and can debate important political issues. For a bill to become
law, it must be passed by the Dail and Seanad, and signed by the
President.
Opinion polls say voters will likely back the plans to scrap the Seanad(Upper House)proposed by Prime Minister Enda Kenny
The cost-saving proposals comes after Dublin was forced to accept an EU/IMF bailout in late 2010, with many blaming the country's politicians for failing to properly manage
PM Enda Kenny pointed out that other European Union nations had scrapped their upper houses without any negative effect on their democracies.
"Other small countries like Sweden and Denmark have clearly shown that single chamber parliaments not only cost less but they work much more effectively and with far greater transparency," he said.
It was claimed that abolishing Seanad,the upper house will save 20 million euros (USD 27 million)
The ruling coalition of the centre-right Fine Gael and the Irish Labour party is backing the case for abolition of the Seanad, while the main opposition party Fianna Fail is against it
Opponents of PM Enda Kenny's plans admit the 60-member upper house in its current form does not work but have said it should be reformed rather than closed
Irish Vote to Retain Irish Senate
Voters in the Republic of
Ireland have rejected a government proposal to abolish Seanad Éireann
(upper house of the Irish parliament).
The Fine Gael Labour coalition government proposal was
supported by Sinn Féin and was lost by a narrow margin, with 48.3%
voting in favour of abolition, with 51.7% against. Total turnout in the election was higher than expected at nearly 40%.
The referendum to establish a Court of Appeal has been passed by a majority of almost two to one.
The official result shows just over 65% of voters were in favour of establishing the court.
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