‘Forgotten’ Seanad election: A farce in three acts

While Enda Kenny and Micheál Martin are still practising for musical chairs, a drama is being played out elsewhere which could well be called "the forgotten election". It's a farce in three parts, each with its own storyline and actors.

Act one is the most energetic. It involves more than 200 candidates traipsing around the country, wooing about 1,000 councillors, members of the newly-elected Dáil, and outgoing Seanad.

This electorate has the task of choosing 43 new senators who, according to the original plot, are supposed to represent vocational interests such as agriculture, the cultural and educational sectors, along with industrial and commercial concerns.

As with any good performance, the process involves a certain suspension of disbelief since many of the gallant 200 plus are either aspiring or disappointed party politicians who are experts in the vagaries of the single transferable vote rather than knowledgeable representatives of one of the five vocational sectors they are supposed to hail from.

One senior politician put it to me that, essentially, when you are dealing with councillors we are talking about a circuit of “professional liars” – which might seem a bit harsh – while another described it as a jungle where you survive and win only with the support of your fellow political animals.

But, let’s be honest, it’s a farce for all intents and purposes. I say this with no disrespect to the candidates who must work within existing rules. The original idea was that the 43 would come from different pools of expertise for the Upper House to play a role in governing our little North Atlantic island. This notion has now become outdated and is driven by political expediency.

Party politics play less of a part in the second act which is the election of the six senators in the university constituencies. I'm one of the 30 candidates in the National University of Ireland constituency while there are 16 in the University of Dublin (Trinity) constituency.

We did not yet have either DCU or the University of Limerick when the present outdated arrangements were put in place and change in the selection of members of the Seanad is long overdue.

Ray of sunshine

Historically, the six university senators have been a ray of sunshine in a House dominated by future Dáil hopefuls, failed candidates or party “hacks”, with some notable exceptions. Their independence means they can speak the truth, say what needs to be said and move private Bills forward.

The university panels are not without their difficulties either. Only a small percentage of the graduates entitled to register to vote have done so. In the case of the NUI that is about 100,000 and Trinity is half this figure.

And of those who have signed up – through a rather cumbersome process – ballot papers have been sent to out-of-date addresses by registered post, with many returned. The result is that only 30-35 per cent of the electorate is expected to cast their votes.

None of these problems are new. There are several excellent reports on Seanad reform. All are gathering dust. Whatever happens now, there is a groundswell of support for change in the both Houses of the Oireachtas. There is need and an opportunity for revolutionary new thinking to radically recast the Seanad in a way that would complement Dáil reform.

A renewed Seanad presents a golden opportunity to have some senators representing different diaspora communities around the world. And with this, of course, massive experience and a global perspective would become available.

The Seanad provides a platform for “out of the box” thinking, overall strategy and articulating who we are in terms other than money. In my view we should proceed to define the Irish in a virtual way as a global force and community rather than by the territorial limits of our island. We should define ourselves by our people, our values, our contribution to the world and the greater good rather than by just by the land we stand on and our economy.

Allocating some seats to the diaspora would dramatically reshape Ireland, not by territory but as a people. Quickly the concept of a real virtual Ireland would come forward, facilitated by technology.

The diaspora would have a tangible and institutionalised link with Ireland. The local administration base is already in place through the embassies and consulates which are in touch with tens of thousands of Irish passport holders. The same diaspora voting register could also be used for the presidential election which would transform it.

Direct voting

All of this can be realised with technology which gives us the ability to have direct connectivity, direct voting and real discussion, idea generation and ultimately empowerment of people to make better communities and a better world. In addition, it would further inspire individual opportunity in the spirit of Irish excellence and adventure around the world.

The diaspora would take centre stage in the final act of “the forgotten election”; the nomination of 11 members by the new taoiseach. Their names will depend on who wins the current game of governmental musical chairs.

If nobody does, the outdated script for the Seanad play will be dusted off and the curtain will come up again, with only minor changes to the cast of characters.

Enda O’Coineen is an Independent NUI candidate for Seanad Éireann