Posted online: Jul 23rd, 2010

The Irish electoral system and the Oireachtas are not fit for a modern democracy, and needs to be radically overhauled, Sen. Pearse Doherty claimed this week. He also stated his belief that the Seanad should be abolished.
Speaking at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties, he said that the current electoral system “has given us an Oireachtas that is largely male, middle class and middle aged. It is not surprising that it is so unrepresentative.”
He continued: “There is widespread public belief that the political system has failed us. Public disillusionment with politics has grown as the role of the government and the establishment parties in bringing about the economic crisis has become more apparent.”
“It has been exacerbated by revelations of corruption, outrageous expenses claims and a dull and ineffectual Oireachtas.”
In relation to the Seanad, Senator Doherty said: “As a member of the Seanad I have to say that the current Seanad serves no useful purpose and should be abolished. As it is currently constituted is not a democratic institution and merely reproduces the existing balance of power in the Dáil and acts as a rubber stamp for the Government.
Senator Doherty’s proposals to overhaul the current electoral system include:
• the abolition of the current Seanad,
• the reduction of the voting age to 16,
• the introduction of larger multi-seat constituencies and the introduction of voting rights for Irish citizens living abroad.
• the holding of Elections at weekends
• an end to the situation where positions on state boards are doled out as rewards to supporters of whatever party happens to be in government
• a cull of quangos