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| A Single National Parliament |
| by Damien Hughes, Fairocracy Editor // Published: December 17th 2010 // Last Modified: December 21st 2010 |
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| Under The Current Irish System: |
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| We Currently Have Two Houses Of Parliament: |
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The Dáil - 166 TDs, all elected by the public - is sometimes referred to as the 'Lower House', but it effectively acts as the only legislature-passing house.
The Seanad - 60 Senators, all chosen by those in power, and by the elite - is often referred to as the 'Upper House'. |
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| We Do Not Need The Seanad Because: |
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 It Is Totally Undemocratic.
All Senators are appointed by those in power, and by special interest groups. None are directly elected by a cross-section of the public. If indeed it is meant to make sure that Bill's which are passed in the Dáil, are constitutional, and are good for the people of Ireland, it could not even begin to full-fill this role, due to the make up of Senators. With 11 of the 60 Senators being directly appointed by the Taoiseach, it is hard to see how this can act as a democratic balance to the government in power, when so many Senators are directly appointed by the person in charge of that government. Another three Senators are appointed by the graduates of National University of Ireland (UCD, UCG, UCC, Maynooth and some affiliated colleges), and a further three by Trinity College Dublin graduates. The remaining 43 Senators are appointed by TDs, Senators, and by local councillors. All of those 43 Senators can only be nominated by powerful interest groups, including trade unions, financial interest groups, major national charities, farmers organisations, retail organisations, and other big business interests. In the main, the entire Seanad is chosen by, and is comprised of, people whom most of us would regard as the elite of our nation. Not the kind of people who we would want to be keeping an eye on our best interests, by any stretch of the imagination. |
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NOTE 1: In theory, Seanad Éireann does not recognise party affiliations. However, as the electorate for the panels is made up of the Members of the incoming Dáil, the outgoing Seanad, county councils and county borough councils, the composition of Seanad Éireann, including the Taoiseach's nominees, will tend to reflect party strengths in Dáil Éireann. In practice, Senators will divide into groups supporting and opposing Government business when voting on issues.
- Official Irish Government Description Of Seanad
http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/about/seanad/
NOTE 2: Seanad Éireann - Register of Nominating Bodies for 2009 (make sure you read both pages)
http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/nominating_bodies/20090618.pdf |
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 It Is A Waste Of Money.
It normally only sits for two days per week, with no sittings during plenty of weeks throughout the year (classed as holidays). |
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NOTE 1: It is estimated that the Seanad accounts for between 20% and 25% of the entire cost of the Oireachtas [which consists of the Dáil, the Seanad and the office of the President], which is upwards of €20 million annually. This means that it costs the guts of €200,000 per day to run the Seanad and if one makes a conservative estimate that a three-hour debate comprises one third of Members' average working day, then this Seanad debate costs €75,000, not including the hours of the Minister's staff. All that money and all that effort, which supposedly was directed to addressing matters of public concern, was completely wasted.
- Senator Phil Prendergast (Labour), October 19th 2009, speaking during a regular Seanad debate
http://debates.oireachtas.ie/seanad/2010/10/19/00004.asp
NOTE 2: Seanad Éireann normally meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Official Irish Government Description Of Seanad
http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/about/seanad/ |
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 It Is A Waste Of Time.
It cannot initiate legislation, and it cannot stop legislation going through which it deems as unconstitutional, if the Dáil has already passed that legislation. So what can it do? It can slow legislation down a little by debating it, and it can suggest amendments (which the Dáil can ignore). But can't we all? |
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NOTE 1: Seanad Éireann cannot delay indefinitely legislation which has already been passed by Dáil Éireann and cannot initiate Bills to amend the Constitution.
- Official Irish Government Description Of Seanad
http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/about/seanad/ |
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 This New System Will Do The Seanad's Intended Job, Properly.
And finally, the most important point, this new system - Fairocracy - will make the Seanad's supposed originally intended use redundant, as the system itself will be the checks and balances for the Dáil. A directly elected Democratic Regulator (more information about this new position coming soon), more answerable TDs, more transparent voting by TDs, and a much more accountable Dáil, will do what the Seanad was supposed to do. The general public will be much more involved in the system, so therefore, it is they who will in fact take the place of the Seanad. |
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 Under The Fairocracy System: |
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| We Only Need The Dáil. The Seanad Will Be Dis-Continued: |
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| For many decades, the Seanad, as far as many of us are concerned, has done very little, and is nothing more than an ego trip and retirement home for those who have been in favour with the elite. It was always pointless, and it further serves to confuse the system, making the democratic process in Ireland, just that little bit harder to understand for the average Irish person. That is not the most effective way to involve the general public in our national politics. It would make much more sense to direct all of our attention at a single house of Parliament, and to forge a relationship between the legislators and the public, so that we can become part of the legislation-making process in a real way, and so that we can make the legislators more answerable to us, the people. Our oldest Quango should go! |
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| Not Irish? |
Dáil = Main/Lower House Of Parliament
Seanad = Senate/Upper House Of Parliament
TD = Member Of Parliament
Taoiseach = Prime Minister
Tánaiste = Deputy Prime Minister
Ceann Comhairle = Speaker Of the House |
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