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| Seanad vote: Voting closes in Republic of Ireland referendums | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Voting has closed in the Republic of Ireland's Senate and Court of Appeal referendums. | |
| The Seanad Éireann (Irish senate) is the upper house of the Irish Parliament and has existed for more than 90 years. | The Seanad Éireann (Irish senate) is the upper house of the Irish Parliament and has existed for more than 90 years. |
| The current Irish government has said it costs too much to run and is no longer necessary in the democratic process. | The current Irish government has said it costs too much to run and is no longer necessary in the democratic process. |
| Opponents want it retained and reformed, saying it plays an essential role in holding governments to account. | Opponents want it retained and reformed, saying it plays an essential role in holding governments to account. |
| Seanad Éireann was established in 1922, just months after the foundation of what was then known as the Irish Free State. | Seanad Éireann was established in 1922, just months after the foundation of what was then known as the Irish Free State. |
| The Seanad's powers and functions were originally modelled on the British House of Lords, providing a bicameral system of government where the upper house scrutinises and amends bills that originate mainly in the lower house. | The Seanad's powers and functions were originally modelled on the British House of Lords, providing a bicameral system of government where the upper house scrutinises and amends bills that originate mainly in the lower house. |
| It cannot block legislation passed by the Dáil (lower house) but it can delay it by up to three months. However, it has not used this power since 1964. | It cannot block legislation passed by the Dáil (lower house) but it can delay it by up to three months. However, it has not used this power since 1964. |
| More than three million people were eligible to vote on whether or not to abolish the Seanad. | |
| Voters were also asked to vote on whether or not to establish a Court of Appeal and other changes to the courts system. | |