Political reform and disability funding
Senator Noone criticises the abolition campaign’s use of disability funding as leverage, while the exchange reiterates opposition to presenting Seanad abolition as straightforward financial reform.
I join colleagues on their comments on today’s press release on the abolition of the Seanad from the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton. The House has well discussed the cheap shot that it is to cut off one third of the Oireachtas and call it political reform. My views on this are well documented.
I also join other speakers in agreeing this press release is a populist move in that it tugs at people’s heart strings by raising funding for disability and such matters alongside the Seanad’s abolition. Of course, money is important in the economy, particularly considering the state it is in now.
However, from another angle, we have to look at this release as being somewhat clever-----
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-----in that it puts across a simple message to the people that if they abolish the Seanad they will save money but if they do not, then disabled people will not get extra funding.
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I would love to know who asked for that.
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Yes, I will come to my question for the Leader. We need to come up with a simple message on the other side of the camp.
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The Senator supports the abolition of the Seanad. She voted for it.