Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

It is a real irony that such has been the mishandling of the case for the abolition of the Seanad by the Taoiseach that the spectre has been raised of this archaic, irrelevant and highly undemocratic institution potentially being rescued from annihilation. This would be totally regrettable. I do not in any way blame people for having this view. It is small wonder when we have been subjected to listening to Ministers speak about how they have a mandate for this measure. It is correct that it was part of the election programmes of the Government parties, but so too were many other promises all of which have been flagrantly broken without a second glance.

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