Tags: bye-election, Cork, Ireland, Jerry Buttimer, politics, reform, Seanad

Jerry Buttimer

IN the interest of Seanad reform, Fine Gael senator Jerry Buttimer has called for the three outstanding Seanad bye-elections to be held on the same day and for one of the three seats to be allocated to a non-government party.

“If the Government is intent on reforming the Seanad the best place to start is to hold all of the outstanding bye-elections on the same day. The moving of the writs for two of the three bye-elections last month was seen, in some circles, as a cynical ploy to ensure the maximum outcome for Fianna Fáil.

“As Seanad bye-elections are voted on by Oireachtas members only, the maximum result would be ensured for Fianna Fáil if the elections to replace Senators Kelly and Callanan, who were both members of the Agricultural panel, were held on different days.

“Following Fianna Fáil and the Greens’ drubbing in the local elections, their entitlement to representation in the Seanad should be less now, not more. If the Government intends to ‘set minimum standards to ensure fairness and accuracy’ with regard to electoral reform as set out in the renegotiated Programme for Government, it has a golden opportunity here to put words into actions in the interest of equality for all.

“Any decision to hold Senator Kelly and Callanan’s bye-elections on different days would be stroke politics at its very best and an insult to the democratic process. All elections should be held on the same day and should include a non-Government candidate.”