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IRELAND’S UPPER CHAMBER first came into existence in 1922, but was abolished entirely by Eamon DeValera in 1936 after it delayed a number of Government proposals. The Seanad in its current form was established the following year after the adoption of the Constitution. Often maligned as either a ‘retirement home’ for ageing TDs or a ‘creche’ where up-and-coming politicians could burnish their profile, the upper house has also given a platform to a wide variety of unique political voices over the years…
Senator WB Yeats delivered a series of speeches in the Free State Senate attacking the Government’s willingness to bend to the wishes of the Catholic clergy on the issue of divorce. The poet, who served two terms in the House, viewed the issue mainly as a confrontation between the emerging Catholic ethos and the country’s Protestant minority. In an iconic 1925 speech, he told the chamber that in “the long warfare of this country with England the Catholic clergy took the side of the people, and owing to that they possess here an influence that they do not possess anywhere else in Europe”….
[historical-debates.oireachtas.ie]
The passage of the Pawnbrokers Bill was referenced by Fine Gael in the course of the referendum campaign — Richard Bruton staging a photo op with ‘The Beatles’ to point out that it’s been almost 50 years since the upper house last used its powers to delay any legislation. DCU lecturer Eoin O’Malley, speaking during a debate last month, said it should be remembered that senators only blocked the Bill because some of them had got ‘lost’ (ie. drunk) and hadn’t been in the chamber for the vote. Ahead of the ballot on the legislation, senator and professor Michael Hayes accused Justice Minister Charles Haughey of having an “insolent attitude,” before voting ‘níl’ on the Bill. “It will pass just the same,” Haughey said afterwards.
[Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland]
Ireland’s first female president launched successful campaigns on a wide range of issues during her time in the upper house, but is was for her stance on contraception that she first hit the headlines. Elected to the chamber in 1969 at the age of 25, she said later she “completely underestimated the reaction of the establishment” when she introduced the first bill proposing to liberalise the law in the area. Although ‘seconded’ by two other members, Robinson was refused permission to put the bill on the agenda for debate. She was denounced from pulpits around the country for the move.
Mary Robinson speaks about her Seanad career (Youtube: CarnegieCouncil)
Perhaps the most famous occupant of the upper house, David Norris was first elected as an Independent for the Trinity College constituency in 1987. Having initially lost a case in the Supreme Court challenging Ireland’s criminalisation of homosexual acts, Norris made use of his position in the chamber and his increased public profile to heighten public knowledge of the issue. Eventually, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in Norris’s favour, and the laws criminalising the acts in question were eventually repealed from the statute book in 1993.
Norris speaks about gay rights at the 2007 Gay Pride march (Youtube: KarlHayden)
Peace campaigner Gordon Wilson, who was appointed to the Seanad in early 1993, took the opportunity provided by his maiden speech to make an impassioned plea to the IRA to cease their armed conflict. Wilson, a draper from Enniskillen, devoted himself to the cause of trying to bring about peace in Northern Ireland after his daughter Marie was killed during the Remembrance Day bombing of 1987. Three people had also lost their lives the previous night as a result of the conflict on the 23 March when Senator Wilson rose to begin his first speech to the chamber…
Later, he made a direct appeal to the IRA to begin considering an alternative course…
[historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/S/0144/S.0144.199506270002.html]
The Government was forced to drop controversial plans to ban newspapers and other media outlets publishing opinion polls in the week before a referendum or general election, after Senator Shane Ross spotted a loophole in the Bill. Tánaiste Mary Harney said afterwards that the coalition was dropping its proposals as a result of the collapse of all party support for the issue. Opposition senators had put down more than 60 amendments to the legislations, which they called “unworkable” and “constitutionally flawed”. The ban was originally proposed in the wake of a TG4 poll that was broadcast three days before a by-election in Tipperary South, which Fianna Fáil lost.
Shane Ross [Screengrab/Oireachtas TV]
The Government’s plans to do away with the upper house prompted a series of outbursts in the run up to the summer break. There was the ‘Fannygate’ scandal, when ‘Father of the Seanad’ David Norris accused Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty of speaking out of a particular part of her anatomy. Further insults were traded by Senator John Crown and Junior Minister Brian Hayes, while Fianna Fáil’s Marc McSharry’s description of Enda Kenny as “a clown” who was turning the Government into “a circus ring” was met with widespread criticism. It was all pretty unedifying stuff.
[Screengrab/Oireachtas.ie]
Lots of companies saying that they will support work from home forever, which is fine when everyone else is at home too, but definitely a challenge once more colleagues return to the office. No fun when you’re the only one at home struggling to get a word in at the team meeting and messaging your boss to remind them to dial into the Video call so that you can participate. I’ve enjoyed working from home but there’s definitely a layer of Innovation and collaboration that’s missing when you’re not in the office environment.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: agree with everything you’ve said!
People learn from people how can they do that from there bedroom no interacting. My business is is distribution I’ve worked every day during supposed COVID. Get people back to work you don’t see people dying at the tills in Lidl or Tesco….
@Brian Corr: If your business is transportation would it not help if he traffic volume is lower
@Brian Corr: I’ve former work mates who run training for new starters and they say its been a nightmare at times trying to teach, it’s gotten to a point where they requested that they do in person training with new starters in the office once a week. People don’t realise when you start a new Job its just not the some doing training over zoom compared to in person. We will eventually have to take the covid training wheel’s off and at least make it an option. Other wise companies will eventually find ways around it like some did in relation to opening under the now joke of essential
@Brian Corr: supposed covid?
@Brian Corr: My skillset has increased dramatically since ive been working from home, has nothing got to do with interaction, but with how you manage yourself and your workliad…. Eveyone in the team is full time from home now and the productivity has never been better.
@Dave: Massive difference between existing staff upskilling and new staff trying to get up to speed with everyone else. I work in animation and its been a nightmare for new crew, they’ve struggled to get up to speed with everyone else and manage their time working alone at home, as result we’ve had awful mental health issues for some and no matter how much support we give its no were near the same as sitting next to a more senior crew member and just watching them work and being able to ask questions as they go rather then via a chat window. I’ve worked freelance for big chunks of my career so well able to work from home/remote but I don’t think I’d be were I am career wise if I had to work remote from day 01.
Just look at the traffic on the roads in the morning & evening there are lots more back working in offices now since all the schools opened,
Mícheál will say this
Leo will say that
Donnelly will say anything to grab a headline
And Eamon will sleep through it all
@trebloc01: Sush…..you will wake Eamon
I might be mistaken but I read in the NY Times that pretty much all the tech giants are giving their employees notice that they intend on bringing them back to the office.
@Robert Clifford:
No, not the case. In fact, lowering office footprint and costs is now a KPI and will be seen on P&L’s long into future
@Robert Clifford: it doesn’t surprise me, the option to maybe work from home some days will be there but this fantasy that companies especially tech giants would suddenly turn round after spending so much investing in office spaces etc for its operations, was then gonna turn round and tell everyone nah you fine folks work away from home. As I said some maybe offered the option, it might even suit some to work from home, but I see plenty coming back maybe doing a blended week of home and office
@Tarraing Mo Liathróidí:
Shareholders demand savings were possible.
@Robert Clifford: Not the case, i work for one and everyone has been givi g the option to work remotely full time if they choose to do so.
I already know some office’s already back working, one cos the power trip mad supervisor didn’t like not being able to look over everyone’s shoulders so convinced management it was safe, but the others is simply cos the staff needed to return to do in person training with new starters. Anyone who’s done training or given it will have different opinions but the majority will say its easier in person for both parties. In my old company WFH was allowed after a year with the company and usually involved doing it every Friday and Monday and then in the office Tuesday to Thursday, which I liked. Some will want to do WFH all the time but for me who doesn’t have the space for a permanent office will be nice to have the choice or balance for half and half working between the office and home
@Tarraing Mo Liathróidí: yeah I’m back since August last year and I’m sure a lot more are too even when we could easily work from home.
@chiqey: ya it amazes me how some think just cos these places are told to work from home, many will stick to it. Once companies can find ways round or deem it essential, people will not have a choice in cases despite all the fanfare from the media and government, promoting the whole WFH gig. Simple fact is some will get a choice to WFH, but plenty will be brought back and very little choice will be given since there is no real laws protecting staff, if companies bringing staff back to an office is deemed essential. And you will hardly go complaining to authorities about this if ya wanna keep your job as one of my friends was told when she was made go back to the office
Im starting a new job today where i have to go in. I’ve been working from home for over a year and my nerves are shot. In saying that..be nice to have someone other then the dog to talk to all day.
@Trish O’Leary-Dunne: best of luck in the new job
@Trish O’Leary-Dunne: poor dog will be lonely having gotten used to your company
I’ve just started a new job remotely and it’s very challenging. I’m looking forward to going back to the office, at least part-time.
Did the same 6 months ago. Absolute disaster. You don’t meet your colleagues or clients except virtually.
The tax system will have to change to suit remote/home workers also. Can we have this debate?
What would you change?
@Liam Collins:
Working from home, abroad.
Would you think it would lead to massive outsourcing of jobs.
Also lot of jobs salary are based on cost of living in your area.if working in area where cost of living is lower should a salary show this.
And who exactly is pushing for this?
Pension funds and small enterprises will not want people WFH – they will be in the ear of all ministers
have your say