Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Senator O'Donnell raised an important point in asking us to consider if we would go against the people. She only has to go back to the Oireachtas inquiries referendum where every party in this Oireachtas was in favour of that amendment, but that was against the wishes of the people. The parties got it completely wrong with the wishes of the people regarding giving the Oireachtas more powers to inquire and that is a recent precedent.

Every party except Fianna Fáil was in favour of the abolition of the Seanad. That was against the wishes of the people.