THE COALITION suffered an embarrassing defeat in the Seanad yesterday as three Labour Senators voted in favour of an Opposition motion on the future of the upper House.
The crack in the Coalition came on a Fianna Fáil motion calling for the future of the Seanad to be considered by the constitutional convention, which is to be established next month.
The Labour Senators joined Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, the Independents and most of the Taoiseach’s non-political nominees in voting against the Government. The Fianna Fáil motion was carried by 26 votes to 23 with Fine Gael and the majority of Labour Senators voting against.
The Coalition has committed itself in the programme for government to holding a referendum to abolish the Seanad and the issue has been excluded from the remit of the convention. The original commitment to abolish the Seanad was made by Taoiseach Enda Kenny while he was in opposition.
A referendum on the issue was scheduled to take place next year. While the Government will not be obliged to change its policy as a result of yesterday’s defeat, the development represents a boost for those campaigning to retain a reformed Upper House.
Denis Landy, one of the three Labour Senators who voted for the motion, last night called on the Government to reconsider the commitment to abolish the Seanad. “I am looking for a proper reform of the Seanad rather than its abolition and I think the people should be offered that choice when it comes to a referendum. I feel very strongly that the issue of Seanad reform should be part of the constitutional convention and that is why I supported the motion put down by Fianna Fáil.”
Mr Landy said it had been his understanding up until yesterday that the party whip would not be applied to a vote on the future of the Seanad, but during internal party discussions it became clear that a whip was being imposed. “I was not going to be deterred by the last-minute application of the whip and I don’t think there should be any repercussions for me or any other Senator arising from the vote.”
A Labour Party spokesman said later the party’s chief whip, Emmet Stagg, would be asking the party whip in the Seanad, Susan O’Keeffe, for a report about what happened. “It seems to be a bit of a storm in a teacup,” added the party spokesman.
Government Senators, with the exception of Fine Gael leader Maurice Cummins and Labour leader Ivana Bacik, did not participate in yesterday’s debate, which took place unexpectedly when Fianna Fáil won an initial vote to change the day’s business. The non-participation led to speculation that many Government Senators had some sympathy with the Opposition motion.
