Rónán Mullen (Independent)

It was not a matter of submitting the issue to the Irish people for a decision but a referendum to abolish the Seanad. From the outset this proposal from the Taoiseach has had a shallowness which deserves criticism. There has not been a proper debate in either of the Houses about how our political institutions should function. There are rumours this morning that the Seanad is for the chop in February and that it will happen very quickly and with immediate effect. If that is true, it is not the way to shape the democratic institutions of this State.