The Seanad Éireann (Irish senate) is the upper house of
the Irish Parliament
Voters in the Republic of Ireland have rejected a
government proposal to abolish Seanad Éireann
(upper house of the Irish parliament).
The Fine Gael Labour coalition government proposal
was supported by Sinn Féin and was lost by a narrow
margin, with 48.3% voting in favour of abolition, with
51.7% against.
Total turnout in the election was higher than expected
at nearly 40%.
The Seanad has existed for more than 90 years.
The current Irish government had argued it cost too
much to run and that its abolition could have saved
Irish taxpayers as much as 20m euros (£16.92m) a
year.
Opponents wanted it retained and reformed, saying it
played an essential role in holding governments to
account.
More than three million people were eligible to vote on
whether or not to abolish the Seanad.
Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny had claimed the
abolition of the Seanad would create a leaner, more
effective and more accountable system of government.
After the result, he said: "Sometimes in politics you get
a wallop in the electoral process.
"I accept the verdict of the people. But I also say in
humility in accepting that verdict, that there is a virtue
in actually being able to stand before the people and
say: 'I did say four years ago I would ask you this
question. We've honoured that commitment in full and
so have you'.
"You've given your verdict and decision and I accept it
fully."
Opponents, led by the largest opposition party Fianna
Fáil, said the Seanad was necessary to serve as a
government watchdog and to hold cabinet ministers to
account.
BBC Dublin correspondent Shane Harrison said the
result would be a disappointment for Enda Kenny.
"Abolition was very much the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny's
idea and he has been criticised by Sinn Féin - his
temporary ally during the campaign - for his failure to
debate the issue with opponents on radio and
television," he said.
"Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and his colleagues
will not be happy that voters in party strongholds in
Dublin, rejected their recommendation.
"The vote was much better news for Fianna Fáil, the
only major party to oppose abolition and suggest the
Seanad should be reformed."
Independent senator Katherine Zappone said it was
important that senators now held a meeting with the
prime minister to come up with a way of ensuring that
the upper house was reformed.
Meanwhile, the referendum to establish a Court of
Appeal has been passed by a majority of almost two to
one.
The official result shows just over 65% of voters were
in favour of establishing the court.
The new court is expected to be operating by this time
next year
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