SEANAD:THE GOVERNMENT was twice defeated on votes relating to reform of the Seanad. Three nominees of the Taoiseach joined Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and other Independents in the Opposition lobby.

A proposal by Opposition leader Darragh O’Brien (FF), that the House debate a motion calling on the Government to include Seanad reform in the deliberations of the constitutional convention, was carried. It was seconded by David Norris (Ind).

A Government attempt to revise the order of business was also voted down.

Mr Norris said he was concerned that elements in the House appeared to be deliberately winding Seanad Éireann down and, hopefully, this would be resisted. What had now happened to challenge that was a victory for democracy in the House.

During the debate on the motion, Seanad leader Maurice Cummins (FG) said the Government did not intend to refer the matter of Seanad reform to the convention.

The referendum on the future of the House would more than likely be held in the latter half of next year.

Marc MacSharry (FF) claimed there had been a subversion of democracy by the whipping of Fine Gael members, outside of the leadership in the House, not to participate in the debate. Fine Gael had devised a democratic dictatorship. Some Independent members asked what the Government was afraid of.

Feargal Quinn queried how a convention could do its business without considering the possible abolition of the Seanad.