18/07/2013

Govt Win First Vote On Seanad Abolition

The government has won the first vote on the proposed Bill to abolish the Seanad.

Independent Senator Feargal Quinn had forwarded a motion to extend the defeat, but it was defeated by 31 votes to 27.

The Bill, the 32rd Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann, will now go to a full committee stage debate by the House.

Mr Quinn claimed that the Seanad was not given enough time to debate the proposed abolition, warning that "we are sleep-walking into a situation where the executive’s stranglehold on political debate is strengthened."

Adding: "We may end up with a single chamber parliament with no space for independent and minority voices."

(MH/CD)

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