Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----against their own principles. They will not vote in favour of the abolition of Seanad Éireann because they have too much respect for themselves and their tradition.

I hope this section will be beaten by the people when they reject the proposal to abolish Seanad Éireann, and in that case they will have their ultimate power. I believe they will not abolish Seanad Éireann but they will want it reformed. That is why we are strongly making the case we want reform of the Seanad, not its abolition. That is what we arguing for and that is what I am hopeful we will achieve.