COMMENT

WHILE it’s hard to get enthusiastic about the upcoming referendum on the abolition of the Seanad, there was something unsettling about Enda Kenny’s refusal to debate the issue with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin last week.

Enda Kenny has previous form in this area. He has famously declined to appear on Vincent’s Browne’s TV programme, although some would argue that he is justified in taking this stance.

Snubbing Ireland’s most fearsome broadcaster is one thing; refusing to debate an important issue with a political rival is quite another.

Removing Seanad Eireann from the political landscape is one of Enda Kenny’s pet projects. It should have been an easy sell, presenting a cynical, exhausted and battered population with an opportunity to reduce the number of politicians feeding from the public trough.

But is abolishing the Seanad as simple as it seems? We are, after all, talking about the removal of a central pillar of our democracy.

Is there an argument for reform? Why are we not being given this option on polling day?

Even the Government’s cost saving projections have been questioned by those who support the retention of the Upper House.

So what is Enda Kenny up to? Is this just a populist move that ticks the box of political reform without actually achieving it?

We deserve to know the answers to these questions. And the leader of Fianna Fail is quite right to request a television debate with the Taoiseach to see if the Government’s proposal stands up to scrutiny.

Enda Kenny said last week that he didn’t want to embarrass Micheal Martin by debating the issue with him. This response says more about Kenny than it does about Martin.

It should be compulsory for any sitting Taoiseach to debate an upcoming referendum on national television.

Due largely to the Government’s conduct so far in this referendum campaign, I remain stuck in the

‘undecided’ camp.

[email protected]