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WE IRISH LOVE a good replay, we’re greedy so-and-so’s like that.
And just like Croker we also have some a couple of match day line-up changes from last night’s action on Prime Time. For tonight’s Vincent Browne Seanad debate, Richard Bruton and Micheál Martin are back but we have two more players thrown into the mix to spice things up.
Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald TD has been added to the Yes side and former Tánaiste and Democracy Matters campaigner Michael McDowell is in for the No’s.
If you want to get involved leave a comment below about or tweet to us @the_journal or to myself @ronanduffy_ .
2 Oct 2013
9:54PM
Welcome to our live blog of tonight’s debate from TV3. It’s due to kick-off at 10.05 pm.
The debate is not going out live, it was pre-recorded a couple of hours ago. TV3 say it will be broadcast ‘as-live’ so hopefully that means we’ll get to see all the action.
Well we will if Mary Lou McDonald get’s her way anyway.
It’s unlikely to mean much though as it will probably be voted down at a later stage.
2 Oct 2013
10:07PM
TV3 go with some dramatic Dark Knight-esque music as a teaser. Vincent though is looking positively relaxed with his hands crossed on the desk.
We have to wait through another break first however.
2 Oct 2013
10:10PM
Vincent will of course be staying on air with his regular show right after the debate.
To debate the debate if you will.
We’re back.
2 Oct 2013
10:11PM
Nobody will try to shout anyone down says Vincent, we’ll see.
2 Oct 2013
10:13PM
Martin up first. Vincent quotes some old Fianna Fáil positions.
Martin say we haven’t had added enough strength to local Government for just one chamber, it was always a necessity for abolition he says.
Vincent and Martin already in fisticuffs.
2 Oct 2013
10:14PM
Other countries accompanied abolition with stronger local government and regional government says Martin.
2 Oct 2013
10:16PM
MacDonald is not opposed to second chambers as a rule she says.
‘Local Government are different issues’
Don’t leave it as a pre-condition for an elitist chamber she tells Martin.
2 Oct 2013
10:17PM
Martin focusing in on past words by Gerry Adams who called abolition a ‘coup d’etat’.
This time last year TheJournal.ie asked all the major parties where they stood on the issue of the Seanad. Here’s what they said.
2 Oct 2013
10:19PM
McDowell now going after Gerry Adams past words about Seanad. He says that Sinn Féin’s Ard Comhairle is a ‘shadowy group’.
MacDonald won’t let him ‘insult the elected representatives of her party’.
2 Oct 2013
10:22PM
Vincent Browne stepping in to try and take focus away from Gerry Adams.
McDowell gets in says this amendment removes seven parts of our constitution and changes 30 others.
He says one of the powers it removes it the right of President to refer laws to the Irish people. Bruton yet to speak after 10 minutes.
2 Oct 2013
10:25PM
Bruton gets some screen time. He says he finds it hard to listen to the words of McDowell. Uses his old PD words against him saying you need to be ‘radical or redundant’
RB: ‘This is an institution that is not democratic in its operation.’
2 Oct 2013
10:25PM
Vincent Browne directs proceedings, he had been quiet.
2 Oct 2013
10:28PM
We have our first on one-on-one interaction. “You control the Dail” says Martin to Bruton. ‘No we don’t’ retorts Bruton.
MM: ‘Lucinda Creighton will tell you who controls the Dáil’. You’ve denied the people the choice of reform he adds.
2 Oct 2013
10:31PM
It’s all pretty civilised so far. But Vincent is questioning Bruton on the Government’s new reform plans. Bruton says that there will be detailed examination of budget procedures before they come into effect.
2 Oct 2013
10:32PM
Michael McDowell got a phonecall from former FG minister Nora Owen on the way to the debate apparently. She is voting ‘No’ he said.
There’s been talk of the use of bronzer on twitter tonight. We’ve no idea why.
2 Oct 2013
10:46PM
The other parties except Sinn Féin are ‘slavishly for an EU agenda’ says McDonald.
2 Oct 2013
10:49PM
They’re talking Mary Robinson and contraception. McDonald says that using Mary Robinson as an example of a successful Senator is inaccurate. She was going after her goals ‘Seanad or no Seanad’.
McDowell says that Robinson has argued strongly for the Seanad, he quotes her as saying ’It’s a safeguard to our civil rights’.
2 Oct 2013
10:51PM
We’ve gone to a break. After which Vincent wants to talk, ‘The role of Enda Kenny in this debate’. I don’t know about you but I’m looking forward to that.
It wouldn’t be a debate without a word from Glenna Lynch.
2 Oct 2013
11:12PM
Martin is getting some time here. He’s looking straight at McDonald, challenging her by saying she is “advocating both an abolitionist position and a reformist position.’
McDonald says she is not prepared to recommend to people to ‘protect an anti-democratic chamber’.
2 Oct 2013
11:13PM
We’re on a break. The first ad we see is for the Referendum Commission. Really?
2 Oct 2013
11:16PM
We’re waiting for the third, um third? There goes my hurling comparison. What sports have three periods? Ah, ice hockey, knew I’d get one.
2 Oct 2013
11:18PM
Part III. The Dark Knight Rises.
2 Oct 2013
11:19PM
Vinnie wants to talk about the Dáil. Martin says that the Government have ‘abused their majority’ and ‘guillotined 52 bills.’
2 Oct 2013
11:20PM
The Seanad has always been a ‘more reflective chamber’ says Martin. McDowell ‘wants to agree with that’. He then does.
2 Oct 2013
11:23PM
They’re talking about parliamentary procedure, Martin says Government ‘rammed through’ the property tax and then had to change the bill later. A reformed Seanad could have delayed it for reflection he says.
2 Oct 2013
11:26PM
Martin still taking the Government’s record on guillotining bills. I’m entitled to answer say Bruton. ‘Go on’ says Vinnie.
RB: The truth is there is guillotining in every parliament.
So did we learn anything? Moratorium kicks in tomorrow afternoon so I hope so.
3 Oct 2013
12:03AM
Well there it was, the last debate of the Seanad referendum.
It was certainly a little more detailed than some of the talk in the run up to tonight. More talk about precisely what this referendum will do to our constitution and the state of our parliamentary system.
It’s up to the you decide now though, so if you’re still unsure look check out all our coverage on the Seanad Referendum.
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I’m 43 years old & am saddened to read this. Marvel comics were such a huge part of my childhood & being able to share them & the movies with my children has been a source of great joy to me. Thank you for the memories Stan Lee. R.I.P.
R. I. P. Never really was interested in comics.. And the only marvel movie I’ve enjoyed or cared for spiderman. Superb age to live to and he’s made millions of people very happy with his work.
I’m sure nothing made him happier than to see his creations come to life, to a worldwide audience over the last decade with the Marvel cinematic universe. RIP Stan Lee
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