WHITE TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING ON THE SEANAD REFERENDUM

18th September 2013
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WHERE: The Goat, Kilmacud Road, Goatstown Dublin 14
WHEN:   8PM, Thursday Sept. 26th
WHO:     Open to members of the public and the media

Alex White TD will hold a public meeting where an open discussion will take place on the Seanad and the Court of Appeal referenda. This public event will take place on Thursday Sept. 26th at 8pm at the Goat in Goatstown, Dublin 14. Also speaking at the event will be Kevin Rafter, an author and political academic, who is campaigning for the abolition of the Seanad with the One House Group.

“I’m inviting people to come along on Thursday to the Goat and to share their views on the Seanad referendum. Whenever a referendum is called to change our Constitution, it’s vitally important that citizens participate in the process, not only by voting but also by being actively engaged in the issues at stake.

“The role and purpose of Seanad Eireann has been debated over many years. We in the Labour Party have taken a long hard look at the Senate, and rather than maintain it on the basis of a role it potentially could have, we believe there is no function the Seanad can perform that cannot be done by a strengthened Dáil Éireann. That’s why I’m campaigning for a YES vote in the referendum.

“Even those who say we should keep the Senate appear to accept that it is fundamentally flawed, forcing them to ground their campaign on contradictory, and largely unworkable proposals for “reform”.