Senator David Norris was one of the longest serving parliamentarians across these islands when he made his final speech in Seanad Éireann on Monday to mark his retirement from politics. He represented the Trinity constituency for 36 years and was re-elected to the seat nine times over that period.
During his time in politics, Norris campaigned for the decriminalisation of homosexuality, including taking a case to the European Court of Human Rights against the Irish state. He was one of the leading voices in the Yes Equality campaign which made it possible for same-sex couples to marry. He was also a strong supporter of the repeal of the 8th amendment and has pledged his support for the forthcoming constitutional referendums on the definition of family and the role of women.
The work that Norris has done in terms of human rights and equality is a example of how members of the Seanad have the power to bring forth legislation that can make a real impact on people’s lives
In many ways, David Norris encapsulates both what is good and what is bad about the Seanad. On the one hand, just under 68,000 people are eligible to vote in the Trinity (University of Dublin) constituency and have the power to elect three of the 60 seats. You can’t deny that it is elitist that only graduates of two universities on the island have the power to elect 10% of a legislature.
On the other hand, the work that Norris has done in terms of human rights and equality is a example of how members of the Seanad have the power to bring forth legislation that can make a real impact on people’s lives.
Today, Senator David Norris made his last speech in the Seanad Éireann Chamber. The Senator formally resigned after 36 yrs, submitting his resignation to An Cathaoirleach, Sen. Jerry Buttimer, after the Order of Business. #SeeForYourself
— Houses of the Oireachtas - Tithe an Oireachtais (@OireachtasNews) January 22, 2024
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The Control of Economic Activities (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 is an example of such. It bans trade between Ireland and Israel’s illegal settlements in the West Bank. The bill was introduced by Senator Frances Black and is supported by Trócaire and other leading human rights organisations, as well as the majority of political parties. Its implementation has been blocked by Fine Gael.
Labour Senator Mark Wall introduced legislation which has led to the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority and a partial ban on gambling advertising.
When he was taoiseach, Enda Kenny brought forward a referendum to abolish the Seanad. That failed because it was seen as a power grab by the Dáil and cabinet, and also because proposals around Dáil reform were not enacted as expected by the electorate. It was also because the majority of voters felt the Seanad should be reformed rather than abolished in order to ensure there was a robust bicameral legislature which could hold the government to account.
It has been 10 years since the referendum and yet no substantive moves have been made to reform the Seanad. One change that would make a significant difference is the reform of the university constituency to broaden the mandate to graduates across this island.
A second important and necessary reform would be to develop a mechanism for representation from the north.
The history of the Seanad includes a number of members from unionist backgrounds. In more recent years, John Robb, Gordon Wilson, Maurice Hayes and Martin McAleese have also served. Ian Marshall was supported by Fine Gael to run in a Seanad by-election in 2018, but he lost his seat in the 2020 general election. From 2016 until 2020, Senator Billy Lawless, a Galway native who had emigrated to Chicago, was in his own words, a senator for the diaspora after being nominated by Enda Kenny.
All of these more recent northern senators have been nominated by the taoiseach of the day, or in the case of Ian Marshall, elected in a short-term capacity. Unless that changes through reform, then representation of the Irish nation as a whole in the Seanad will only ever be ad-hoc and fleeting.
Despite supporting the campaign to abolish the Seanad, Sinn Féin has made good use of the house since that time. With the recent resignation of Seanadóir Niall Ó Donnghaile, it will be looking at ways in which it can maintain its strength in the house following the next general election, whilst also reflecting its position as an all-Ireland party.