Kenny says he ‘doesn’t want to embarrass’ Martin in Seanad debate

The Taoiseach has said he will not debate Seanad abolition with the Fianna Fáil leader on television because he does not want to embarrass him.

Enda Kenny was challenged by Micheál Martin in the Dáil this afternoon to explain why he would not take part in a debate on the national airwaves with the Opposition leaders, including Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams, to argue the merits or demerits of what was a fundamental change to the Constitution.

To laughter from the Government backbenches, Mr Kenny replied: “The answer to your question is that I don’t want to embarrass you.’’

He said that for fifty years the political system had failed to deal with the Seanad. “That is why, having looked at the question of reform, I came to the conclusion that it is not reformable,’’ he said.

Mr Martin said the Taoiseach owed more to the Irish people.

“In any modern democracy, it is the least one can expect of leaders of political parties or people who put forward substantive, fundamental reform of the Constitution,’’ he added.

He said the Seanad had a very important constitutional function.

Mr Martin said that while the Taoiseach had given “a glib, smart reply’’ , it did not answer the substantive point he had put to him. He said the Seanad was reformable.

Mr Kenny said Mr Martin and Fianna Fáil had failed to deal with the issue of reform over the years.