Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937 sets out the current legislative provisions governing the election of university senators to Seanad Éireann. In a judgment last year, the Supreme Court determined that sections 6 and 7 of that Act, which provide for the election of members of the Seanad by certain university graduates, are unconstitutional because they are not consistent with Article 18.4.2 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court issued a judgment in July 2023 to suspend the making of a declaration of invalidity until 31 May 2025.

In November 2023, the Government approved the drafting of a General Scheme of a Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill. The General Scheme will set out legislative proposals for extending the franchise to certain other institutes of higher education in Ireland beyond the National University of Ireland and University of Dublin (Trinity College Dublin). Work on the drafting of the General Scheme is being advanced in my Department as a matter of priority. I aim to bring a draft General Scheme of the Bill to Government shortly.