It has sneaked up on most of Canada, but there will be a referendum this Friday in the Republic of Ireland on whether to abolish the country’s upper house, the body known as the Seanad, We know it here as the Senate. There is great discontent and dislike of the political class in Ireland following the thumping recession of recent years. There is no sympathy for the largely undemocratic Seanad and it may well be a casualty of bad times. Abolition would save an estimated $50 million in Canadian funds. As in Ottawa, those who feel the Irish Seanad is unnecessary and wasteful point to the exemplary places that have thrown out their upper chambers and are doing just fine, thank you. They would be Denmark, Sweden and New Zealand. It will be one to watch for on Friday.
