User:Jnestorius/Seanad reform

Marie-Louise O'Donnell: 29 January 2014:
 * There were 112 combinations proposed between 1937 and 2013 for the reform of the Seanad. They covered such matters as size and composition, elections, automatic re-election of the Cathaoirleach, terms and timing of elections, the filling of vacancies, nominations, the need for gender balance, vocational panels, regional versus national panels, university seats, the Taoiseach's nominees, the legislative process, votes for persons living in Northern Ireland, the European Union and internationally, national votes, secondary legislation, public appointments, public inquiries, policy reviews, petitions, the Order of Business, the right to address the Seanad, the membership of Senators of the Cabinet, the accountability of the Government to the Seanad, the nomination of the Cathaoirleach, the nomination of the Leas-Chathaoirleach, the salaries of Senators and the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. There were ten reports between 1937 and 2004. We have also had Bills presented by Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and Senators Katherine Zappone and Feargal Quinn and Senator John Crown.

Acts and bills
Acts either with "Seanad" in the title or amending the Constitution (of 1922 or of 1937).
 * Seventh Amendment of the Constitution (Election of Members of Seanad Éireann by Institutions of Higher Education) Act, 1979
 * Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1954
 * Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1947
 * Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) (Bye-Elections) Act, 1940
 * Clerk of Seanad Eireann (Compensation) Act, 1939
 * Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act, 1937
 * Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1937
 * Seanad Eireann (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1936 details for Amendment No. 24
 * Constitution (Amendment No. 24) Act, 1936 abolish Seanad
 * Seanad Bye-Elections Act, 1930 details for Amendment No. 11
 * Constitution (Amendment No. 11) Act, 1929 replace Seanad by-election with Oireachtas by-election
 * Constitution (Amendment No. 15) Act, 1929 allow 1 Senator in govt
 * Constitution (Amendment No. 7) Act, 1928 reduce term from 12 to 9 years
 * Seanad Electoral Act, 1928 details for Amendment No. 6
 * Constitution (Amendment No. 9) Act, 1928 remove specific election panel method with "prescribed by law"
 * Constitution (Amendment No. 8) Act, 1928 lower age from 35 to 30
 * Constitution (Amendment No. 13) Act, 1928 change money bill veto override provision
 * Constitution (Amendment No. 6) Act, 1928 replace popular election with Oireachtas election
 * Electoral (Seanad Elections) Act, 1925

Other acts not included, e.g.:
 * general amendments to electoral law which include Seanad elections
 * general amendments to Oireachtas (exclusions, officials, payment) which include both Houses

Other bills:

Other Oireachtas debates

 * seanad/2014-01-29 Seanad Reform: Motion
 * seanad/1996-04-03 Consultation Paper on Representation of Emigrants in Seanad Éireann: Statements
 * seanad/1994-11-02 New Universities' Enfranchisement: Motion
 * 1991 Seanad "Role of Seanad Éireann — Statements" : Oct 30 Nov 6 Nov 13 Nov 28
 * 1987 Seanad motion "That Seanad Éireann calls on the Government to carry out an urgent review of the powers and functions of the Seanad and the methods of election of its members." 3 June 4 June 10 June 11 June "I think the technical way we are going to do it is to adjourn the meeting without calling for a Vote and adjourn the debate sine die."
 * 1982 Dáil question June 9 "asked the Minister for the Environment if he has any plans to set up an all-party committee to review the system of election to Seanad Éireann" "Is the Minister aware of the representations made by the National Youth Council and other organisations asking that Article 19 of the Constitution be invoked?"
 * dail/1957-11-27 NDP propose abolition
 * dail/1951-11-15 17 postal ballot papers rejected as incorrectly completed - Brendan Corish implied the authorised witness deliberately allowed this to favour other candidates; Minister said it was voters' responsibility.
 * seanad/1943-10-27 Seanad Election—Motion for Judicial Investigation
 * Seanad 1942-07-15 John Counihan wanted a Select Committee to consider the panel elections; motion withdrawn due to negative feedback
 * dail/1938-01-12 Appeal Committee Election Motion, 1938 (rules for "the election of the appeal committee provided for in Section 13 of the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1937")

Other notes

 * 1934 Constitution Review Committee considered "fundamental" articles and apparently not Seanad.

"Seanad Elections" tag housing.gov.ie, includes reform option documents