Seanad Eireann | Business Post

Elaine Byrne: Varadkar is like Goldilocks who finds reform of the Seanad too big or too little

There will never, ever be any solution to the issue of changes of the Upper House that will be deemed to be just right for the Taoiseach

Elaine Byrne: Politicians beware, tinkering with the electoral system is likely to backfire

Darragh O’Brien’s suggestion that by-elections should be replaced by a European substiture list model may make sense – but history shows that voters may not agree

Seanad election reform deferral could mean no vote for some graduates until 2030

Independent senator accuses successive governments of ‘calculated inertia’ in failing to implement change recommended in more than 20 reports

Declaration that law governing Seanad elections is unconstitutional suspended for two years

Supreme Court is suspending its decision until May 2025, despite government calls for four year suspension

Attorney General Rossa Fanning calls on Supreme Court to delay ‘unconstitutional’ Seanad panel ruling

At present, the suspension granted by the court after its ruling in March is set to expire at the end of next month

Varadkar ‘reluctant’ to introduce State honorary title under Seanad bill

Honours - similar to the likes of the UK’s MBE - would be known as Gradam an Uachtaráin and recognise the exceptional achievements of citizens and the outstanding contributions of others

Barry Ward: Legal aid fees were savagely cut 10 years ago – it’s high time we restored them

Criminal lawyers practice in every court, in every county in the country, writes Fine Gael senator Barry Ward. Surely the time has now come to treat them with the respect and equality they deserve?

Bertie Ahern to address Seanad next week

It will be the first time the former Taoiseach has spoken in the House since leaving office

Cancer Society ‘astonished’ at move to delay law banning insurer penalties

Insurance Ireland claims plans for mandatory action will undermine ‘fairness’ in the market, while the Department of Finance stalled the bill which would have stopped survivors being penalised

Martin to avoid ruffling any feathers in cabinet reshuffle

Sources say Taoiseach will play it safe and maintain status quo, while Donohoe and McGrath are likely to swap portfolios

Elaine Byrne: A reimagined Seanad may be the most judicious route to a shared island

In the steps towards greater union on the island of Ireland, we would do well to remember the remarkable democratic accomplishment of the first senate in 1922

James McDermott: Unfairness of Trinity vote is a recurring theme

As rivals jockey to replace Ivana Bacik in Seanad Éireann, it’s worth reminding ourselves that the very concept of a university senator is an anachronistic one

Elaine Byrne: Seanad’s centenary gives us the opportunity to celebrate our shared history

Sixteen southern unionists were appointed to the Seanad in 1922 by WT Cosgrave, giving a voice to minorities not represented in the Dáil, and bringing maturity in the form of amendments to major pieces of legislation

Doherty threatens to proceed with controversial peat harvesting bill

Private horticultural bill to allow practice to resume is co-signed by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil senators, but has angered the Green Party

Dozens of TDs and senators claim expenses without travelling to Leinster House

An estimated €123,000 was paid out last year under a clause allowing politicians to get a full allowance if they can show they were unable to travel to the Oireachtas

Sinn Féin to support Lawless in Seanad by-election

The independent candidate’s strong links to Irish America are understood to be behind the party’s intention to back the businessman

Chu promised Green backers of her Seanad run that she would not quit the party

Green Party chair publicly toyed with joining Social Democrats and had said she would run for Dáil ‘one way or the other’

Low stakes, high risks: the perils of the Seanad by-election

While Hazel Chu embarks on a solo run for a Seanad seat, many in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are concerned that their parties’ fragile election pact will fall apart in a welter of mutual distrust

Constitutional challenge to Seanad voting rules heads to High Court

Case brought by UL graduate Tomás Heneghan contends that current rules about who can be an elector are unconstitutional