This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/05/world/europe/ireland-votes-on-abolishing-its-senate.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ireland Votes on Abolishing Its Senate Ireland Votes On Shutting Its Senate
(about 4 hours later)
Dublin — Ireland’s voters had a chance on Friday to accomplish what some American voters, with their government partly shut down, might only dream of: abolishing one house of the legislature. And they were expected to vote to do so. DUBLIN — Ireland’s voters had a chance on Friday to accomplish what some American voters, with their government partly shut down, can only dream of: abolishing one house of the nation’s legislature. And the Irish were expected to vote to do so.
The Irish voted on separate constitutional amendments to abolish the upper house of Parliament, the Seanad, or senate, and to create a new appellate court. Results were expected Saturday. Two constitutional amendments were on the ballot on Friday, one to abolish the upper house of Parliament, the Seanad, or Senate, and the other to create a new appellate court. Results were expected Saturday.
The debate over the Seanad turned on money and utility. The Irish government argued that the upper house, its members mostly appointed by the governing party and loosely based on the British House of Lords, was fundamentally elitist, and in any case, too expensive. The debate over the Seanad turned on money and usefulness. The Irish government argued that the upper house, its members mostly appointed by the governing party, was fundamentally elitist and, in any case, too expensive.
Unlike the United States Senate, the 60-member Seanad cannot block laws passed by the lower house, only delay them.Unlike the United States Senate, the 60-member Seanad cannot block laws passed by the lower house, only delay them.
Since its establishment under the 1937 Constitution, the Seanad has been the subject of regular demands for reform, but little changed, despite numerous official reports with radical recommendations. Since its establishment under the 1937 Constitution, the Seanad has been little changed, despite regular demands for reform and numerous official reports with radical recommendations.
Senators argue that the move is nothing but a naked power grab by the government and Prime Minister Enda Kenny masquerading as a cost-saving exercise.Senators argue that the move is nothing but a naked power grab by the government and Prime Minister Enda Kenny masquerading as a cost-saving exercise.
One better-known senator, Feargal Quinn, a former business executive, has berated the government for refusing to even consider an overhaul and for running a campaign largely based on the 20 million euros it says the country will save if the upper house is eradicated. One well-known senator, Feargal Quinn, a former business executive, has berated the government for refusing to even consider an overhaul instead and for running a campaign largely based on the more than $27 million it says the country will save if the upper house is eradicated.
“Shutting half our Parliament is not the correct response to economic collapse,” Mr. Quinn said. “Shutting half our Parliament only shuts down oversight and shuts out new voices. That’s no way to run a country.”“Shutting half our Parliament is not the correct response to economic collapse,” Mr. Quinn said. “Shutting half our Parliament only shuts down oversight and shuts out new voices. That’s no way to run a country.”
Mr. Kenny has refused to debate opponents of the abolition, a refusal the newspaper The Irish Examiner critcized in an editorial on Friday. “By refusing to debate the issue, he is adopting a time-worn custom of mushroom cultivation — keep voters in the dark and cover them liberally with manure,” the editorial said. Mr. Kenny has declined to debate opponents of the abolition, a move the newspaper The Irish Examiner criticized in an editorial on Friday. “By refusing to debate the issue, he is adopting a timeworn custom of mushroom cultivation — keep voters in the dark and cover them liberally with manure,” the editorial said.
The government’s director of elections, Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton, said that the Seanad was beyond reform, terming it an expensive, elitist, ineffective luxury the country could no longer afford.The government’s director of elections, Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton, said that the Seanad was beyond reform, terming it an expensive, elitist, ineffective luxury the country could no longer afford.
“How many people know that 90 percent of senators are elected exclusively by politicians and that many politicians have six or seven votes in the Seanad, while the vast majority of the population have none?” he said on a recent campaign stroll in Dublin’s city center. “How many people know that the Seanad can only delay legislation, not overturn it, and the last time it used this power was in 1964?”“How many people know that 90 percent of senators are elected exclusively by politicians and that many politicians have six or seven votes in the Seanad, while the vast majority of the population have none?” he said on a recent campaign stroll in Dublin’s city center. “How many people know that the Seanad can only delay legislation, not overturn it, and the last time it used this power was in 1964?”
Despite the profound nature of the proposed change, the government campaign has been met by widespread public apathy, and turnout was expected to be low among the estimated three million eligible voters. Despite the profound nature of the proposed change, the government campaign has been met by widespread public apathy, and before the polls closed at 10 p.m. on Friday, turnout was at record lows in many parts of the country.
This is the 33rd referendum since the 1937 Constitution was signed; 23 proposed amendments have passed, and nine were rejected. The highest turnout was almost 71%, the lowest 28.6%. This is the 33rd referendum since the 1937 Constitution was signed; 23 of the proposals have passed, and 9 have been rejected. The highest turnout was almost 71 percent, the lowest 28.6 percent.