Chrysalis

Below is another blog I wrote back in 2011 – http://wp.me/pY9kk-2F

In it I again ask the question of the current political classes ‘are they capable of real political reforms?’ This blog was written before the election, and election let us remember that was full of the ‘reform’ debate and full of promises none of which we have seen to date. Again, like before, we have been let down by the lack of vision of our elected elite. The Seanad Abolition referendum is our chance to stand up and be counted I just hope this time we grasp it and vote down this crude power grab measure.

Abolishing The Seanad – They have missed the point again!

So abolishing the Seanad is the new black, or so it seems. Enda Kenny stole a march when he announced his plans to abolish the upper house at a Presidential Dinner before he talked it over with his own party now Labour are beating the same drum and even FF are on the band wagon.
FF seem to have a more sinister motivation however, it is feared that they are looking at holding a referendum on the abolition of the Seanad on the same day as the election. Doing this will mean we may have to wait even longer for that election this is a cynical move by a desperate FF designed to reduce their losses.
Back to the main point, can abolition be regarded as reform? I suppose it is the ultimate reform in a way but will it really have any effect on the real problems within our outdated system I think not! The upper house has not been the source of all if any of our current mêlées and it has a history of introducing groundbreaking legislative changes and launching great debates and careers.
Real reforms are needed across the entire system from how we elect and structure our local government all the way to how we elect and structure our national parliament.
If anyone out there believes that an FG/Lab government is going to provide this much needed reform they are delusional where in the past is the evidence of such vision from either and where in the current dialogue can we see anything but populist political pandering?
One can but hope that the coming campaign will open a real dialogue (not a coffee shop chat, sorry Enda) on the need for fundamental reform, hopefully the election will root out strong characters that will stand up and offer real alternatives and real ideas for change.
More to follow on this…