Fianna Fáil Seanad Leader Catherine Ardagh has criticised the Taoiseach’s ongoing delay in making his appointments to Seanad Éireann. The Seanad cannot sit until he names his eleven nominees.
Senator Ardagh commented, “It is almost a month since the Seanad elections took place and it is three weeks since Enda Kenny was elected Taoiseach and yet he still has not appointed the eleven nominees required to let the Seanad commence its work.
“Throughout this period, all of the newly elected Senators have been paid a wage and provided with facilities, but haven’t sat for a single hour. It is completely untenable and it needs to be addressed without further delay.
“The Taoiseach’s lack of regard for the Seanad is well established, but when he tried to abolish it he got his answer from the Irish people. Legislation cannot be enacted without the Seanad doing its job and the fact is that if emergency legislation were required this week for any reason, the Oireachtas would not be in a position to pass it.
“The General Election result and the numbers it produced require the Taoiseach and the Government to show proper respect to the parliament and work with it in a positive and constructive way. The Seanad is an integral part of our parliament and the Taoiseach’s ongoing failure to make his appointments and let it start doing its work is not encouraging.
“We cannot have another week pass without these appointments being made”.
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Senator Ardagh commented, “It is almost a month since the Seanad elections took place and it is three weeks since Enda Kenny was elected Taoiseach and yet he still has not appointed the eleven nominees required to let the Seanad commence its work.
“Throughout this period, all of the newly elected Senators have been paid a wage and provided with facilities, but haven’t sat for a single hour. It is completely untenable and it needs to be addressed without further delay.
“The Taoiseach’s lack of regard for the Seanad is well established, but when he tried to abolish it he got his answer from the Irish people. Legislation cannot be enacted without the Seanad doing its job and the fact is that if emergency legislation were required this week for any reason, the Oireachtas would not be in a position to pass it.
“The General Election result and the numbers it produced require the Taoiseach and the Government to show proper respect to the parliament and work with it in a positive and constructive way. The Seanad is an integral part of our parliament and the Taoiseach’s ongoing failure to make his appointments and let it start doing its work is not encouraging.
“We cannot have another week pass without these appointments being made”.
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