Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

However, the Bill is being introduced at a time when the Government has committed to putting the continued existence of the Seanad to the people in a referendum to the people. That commitment is made in the programme for Government. Those of us on the Government side of the House knew this when we signed up to that programme and we are committed to supporting the referendum Bill. It is worth remembering that in the general election of 2011 most, if not all, of the political parties identified abolition of the Seanad as a part of their political reform agendas. The Fianna Fáil election manifesto of 2011 stated:

It is important to note that second chambers are not an essential part of parliamentary democracy.
If our proposals for the reform of the electoral system and of government are enacted we will support the abolition of the Seanad. The savings ... will be used to resource the different elements ... to improve the workings of democracy and oversight of Government.

The Sinn Féin manifesto also proposed the abolition of the Seanad in its current form.