The two Seanad university constituencies will be abolished and all third-level graduates will be allowed to vote in a new six-seat constituency, under a plan for Seanad reform to be unveiled today by Minister for the Environment John Gormley.
Mr Gormley is expected to announce his plans in a debate in the Upper House this evening. A commitment to reforming the university constituencies will be the first step in a complete revamp of Seanad Éireann that will allow all citizens to have a vote.
A wide-ranging scheme of Seanad reform, including a new university constituency for all graduates, was proposed in 2004 in a report devised by a committee chaired by Mary O'Rourke.
Mr Gormley is expected to announce his support for the principles of the O'Rourke report along with the university changes.
The current arrangements involving two three-seat university constituencies - one for the National University of Ireland and the other for Trinity College - exclude the majority of third-level graduates from voting, despite the passing of a constitutional amendment in 1979 to broaden the scope of the franchise.
Mr Gormley will announce his intention of proceeding with the introduction of a new six-seat university constituency as quickly as possible.
The other political parties will be consulted on the implementation of the reforms recommended in the O'Rourke report, which will require a further referendum.
Key elements of the report were:
• The Seanad be increased to 65 senators, from 60 as at present, to include the automatic re-election of the cathaoirleach of the Seanad;
• 32 of the 65 senators would be directly elected;
• 26 of these seats would be filled from a single national constituency under a list-PR system, with a further six to be elected by a reformed higher-education constituency, with graduates from all higher education institutes in the State being eligible to register;
• 20 senators would be indirectly elected by county and city councillors, deputies and senators under PR-STV system, while the Taoiseach would nominate 12 senators;
• and the Seanad would be renewed on a rolling basis, with direct elections, including the higher-education constituency, every five years on the same day as the European and local elections.