Abolishing the Seanad- Not smart - In fact dangerous for democracy and the rule of law!

A Case for a Reformed Seanad

Abolishing the Seanad is a mistake!
Let's just look across to our European neighbour Hungary and the implementation of a controversial media law which curbs freedom of speech and human rights because there was no Seanad equivalent to provide the necessary checks and balance instruments to dilute it.

Hungary is a Parliamentary Republic without an upper house or Seanad equivalent. Without an Upper House in Hungary's political system to check and balance legislative proposals we have a clear example as to why a reformed Seanad with imagination, goodwill and extra powers could become a truly independent and representative viable dynamic force in Irish politics and why it is so needed to keep a check on the Dáil.

On January 1 this year, the ruling centre-right party with a 68% majority following a landslide election result implemented legislation which curbs freedom of speech and violates human rights. This controversial and repressive media law proposal, established a media watchdog with members appointed by the Government requiring compulsory media outlet registration and the possibility to impose exorbitant fines of up to €700,000 for "imbalanced news coverage was implemented which could plunge cash-strapped publications into bankruptcy. All of this possible without an independent upper House to block such punitive legislation!

While in Budapest in early December last, as part of the European Parliament Legal Affairs Committee delegation to meet with the Hungarian Presidency, our delegation called on the Hungarian authorities to re-consider the legislative proposal.

Today, the European Parliament voted in Strasbourg to demand that Hungary restores the independence of media governance and halts state interference with freedom of expression and balanced media coverage. Without immediate and continuing pressure from the EU and the threat of legal action, the Hungarian Government would never have amended their legislation this week to amend the controversial law to meet human rights and European law standards.

This case demonstrates the dangers of a unicameral system and the clear need for a bi-cameral system in Ireland. Abolishing the Seanad is a political gimmick to save cash. Instead, let's think smart and long-term and reform the Seanad to become a political lion with the power to provide scrutiny, checks and balances on the Dáil!

International Women's Day - Irish Women in Political Life

Today on the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, we need to reflect on the representation of Irish women in political life. So much progress for women has been achieved since 1911, for example Irish women now benefit from improved equality legislation and protection following Ireland's accession to the EU. However, that only 15% of the 163 seats of the next Dáil are filled with women poses many questions about real equality and representation in Ireland and Europe.

Across the EU one hundred years later, 17% of women are ranked in the poverty bracket; women earn 17.8% less than their male counterparts; only 3% of women are heading up large companies; women are concentrated in low-paid and part-time jobs; women account for the vast majority of lone parents and undertake most of the unpaid care work and a very high percentage are still subjected to domestic violence.

Irish female representation in national public office is extremely low when compared with the low EU average of 24% of women representatives across 27 national parliaments. Women in the European Parliament fare better and represent 35% of MEPs.

We need to become more excited about the values and skills that women bring to politics and business. In order for true representation to become a reality we need to invoke temporary quotas to kick-start the process of true representation. Rwanda for example with the help of quotas is the only Parliament in the world with equal representation.

Political parties have given commitments to increase female representation. The most recent result at 15% demonstrates that these commitments have not worked! NUI Graduates have however one more immediate opportunity before the end of April in the Seanad election to help elect capable representative women.

There are four women candidates out of 27 running on the NUI panel. Since the history of our State only TWO women have been elected onto this panel in the Seanad. Helena Concanon born in 1878, elected in 1933, politician, historian, author and professor of history in UCG and Gemma Hussey, born in 1938, elected in 1977 who then went onto become Minister of Education. This fact is embarrassing for a modern State.

You have an opportunity to balance the scales for women's representation. Make your vote count!

Berlin - The Then and the Now

Sitting at the Legal Affairs Committee meeting in the European Parliament today, I was struck by the then of 1989 so connected to the now. Personally, this day was one depicted in our history books but over the past days the acknowledgement of this special day has brought the reality of history to life. For example, three MEPs who have been elected to the current European Parliament, Speroni, Lamassoure and Casini were members of the legal affairs commitee this day twenty years ago and were in Berlin on the 8th November to discuss the legal basis of Berlin. They explained today that nobody on the 8th November 1989, no matter how close to the situation, could have foretold that the following day an announcement would be made allowing East Berliners to cross over to West Berlin. They viewed the events of the following day personally from the window of the Reichstag. It is said that some GDR politicians foresaw the wall only some days before as lasting for another hundred years. Interestingly, Franz-Ludwig Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, MEP was also present, son of Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg who led an assasination attempt on Hitler 20 July 1944.

Ireland would also be involved in helping the European Economic Community which automatically had to prepare for German unification. In "The Reasons Why, I recall that "During this critical moment, the Irish were in charge of the EU Council Presidency chaired by former Taoiseach Charles J. Haughey...Mr. Haughey set out his priorities for the Presidency as: Calling the special Dublin summit on German reunification; bringing central and eastern Europe into a united Europe;..."Fourteen years later, the Irish would also be in central position to manage the uniting of a family which had artificially been separated by war. "How ironic that exactly six decades afer World War II, on 1 May 2004, it was the Irish as President of the Council who would host the "Day of welcomes", the homecoming, for ten new Member States who had been knocking on the European Union door since 1998. Seamus Heaney reminded us of the auspiciousness of the location of the Phoenix Park and the symbol of the Phoenix - renewal. Europe was indeed renewing itself, coming from a place of war and tyranny to peace and democracy. A day to be proud of indeed! Afterall, at this key and very specific point in time, Ireland was not only at the heart of Europe, it was running Europe. Berie Ahern was President of the Council, Pat Cox was President of the European Parliament and the Secreary General of the European Commission was David O' Sullivan an Irish man..."

Joining the European Community in 1973 was a fundamental step forward for Irish women who automatically upon membership of the EEC received rights of equality particularly in the field of employment. For example, women who married prior to 1973 were prohibited from continuing in civil service employment following their marriage under Irish law guided by the Irish Constitution.

Equality for women and for every EU citizen continues to be a vital aim of the EU. As part of Ireland’s application to the EEC any legislation discriminating against women was neutralised and for this all Irish women can be grateful. Significantly, the number of women in the workforce has risen from 27% in 1973 to more than 42% today.

Since our membership, workers and women have benefited from further equality based legislation and socially based legislation such as the promotion of maternity and paternity leave, rights of redundancy and protection of young persons at work in addition to rights for part-time and agency workers and protection of health and safety.

Endorsement of Pat Cox - Director of Ireland for Europe Campaign

"Regina O'Connor has had the fascinating opportunity in the past several years to have worked in the three key institutions of the European Union, with the European Commission as a stagiaire working with the Middle East Peace Process Desk Officer in 2001, with the Council during the hectic period of Ireland's successful presidency of the EU in the first six months of 2004 and subsequently as a legal and political advisor to the UEN Group and now ALDE group in the European Parliament. For someone so young this has given her a unique insight from a 360 degree perspective on how decisions are arrived at and how laws are made in the corridors of power in Brussels. Most of all her insights shared in this text reveal the rich democratic texture to the decision making process in Europe, a far cry from the caricature of a Europe dominated by so-called "faceless bureaucrats" or unelected officials.

The book also gives a keen sense of Regina's own motivation in her many references in the several contexts in which she has worked to what she describes as Team Ireland. Little wonder that Europe has been good for us because when you see through the eyes of this insider you have the chance to see that we have been great in Europe."


Endorsement of Pat Cox, Director of Ireland for Europe Campaign, former President of the European Parliment, former MEP and T.D.‏ for The Reasons Why by Regina O Connor

Introducing the Book Project on the European Union