Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Somebody described this as the most disappointing day in the Seanad. People will understand that for me yesterday was the most disappointing day but maybe for reasons that are in some way connected.

What disappoints me and others on this issue are the serial failures of leadership through this whole sorry mess, starting with the Taoiseach’s ill-conceived proposal which was about reaching into the cookie jar of popular political ideas within weeks of him sketching out an alternative vision and how the role of the Seanad could be reformed.

The reactions of his henchmen and henchwomen were disappointing too. They rushed to support what is a very flawed vision for our political institutions. Former Senator, Deputy Richard Bruton, made an utterly groundless case for the abolition of the Seanad, blaming the House itself for the failure to reform itself and its role over 75 years. He knows fine and rightly that the only way reform can happen in this place is when the Government proposes it and it has the backing of a majority of its Deputies and Senators.