Politics

Cabinet signs off on Seanad reform to allow all university graduates to vote in elections

Supreme Court recently found that it was unconstitutional to only allow graduates of certain universities to vote in Seanad elections

Around six of the 60 Seanad seats are voted in by graduates of Trinity College, UCC, University of Galway, Maynooth University, UCC and UCD. Graduates of newer universities like UL, DCU and TU Dublin are excluded, as well as graduates of ITs. Picture: Getty

Cabinet has approved plans for Seanad reform today, which will see voting for university seats extended to all Irish graduates.

Darragh O’Brien, the Minister for Local Government, sought approval from government today to draft the General Scheme of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill, which will extend the franchise for University Seanad seats to all graduates of higher education institutions, resulting in thousands of additional people being eligible to vote.

Around six of the ...