AN IRISH GOVERNMENT without an upper house would be the missing piece of a worldwide jigsaw, if Fine Gael’s latest prop in their referendum campaign is to be believed.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny was joined in Dublin’s Stephen’s Green by Ministers Bruton and Shatter, along with several other Fine Gael TDs, to signal again for a yes vote in this week’s Seanad referendum.
Speaking to reporters, Kenny branded the Seanad an “ineffective, powerless body” that has been taken over by the “party political process”.
“The Dáil is the house that, under our constitution, is the place where the government of the day must be held accountable,” the Taoiseach said.
He also dismissed reports that some Senators will disrupt proceedings in the Oireachtas if the Seanad is abolished, saying that politics is “always disruptive” and “about cranky people” who could cause problems.
Giant jigsaw
The event featured a large jigsaw of countries which are small and have unicameral systems of government. The Taoiseach put Ireland’s piece in the centre of display, although not before a couple of teething problems with the orientation of the puzzle.
A pesky railing below eyesight almost derailed the whole process, but Enda recovered seamlessly.
You’re trained to handle that when you’re Taoiseach, you know.
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