Conundrums of conundrums.

Reform, reform, reform. The word on every public figures’ lips since the unexpected “electoral whack” of Friday October 4th.

We know there’s two reform bills on the table, and we know that reform beyond what’s offered within these bills will manifest itself in the form of another referendum. Do the Irish people want another referendum? Well, with less than half of the eligible electorate turning out for this one, the easy answer would be a resounding no. The fact that 39.7 per cent turn out for the abolition decision, 33.3 per cent for the children’s referendum suggests that no matter what the issue, we’re not majoritively bothered…

Should we be bothered?

Peripheral Perspective will leave that to you to comment on below. To further embellish or confuse P.P.’s readers, here’s a look at what’s on the table and what causes and effects may come from more extensive reform.

The Sen. Zappone and Quinn Bill

It must be said, reform in this bill is as extensive as is possible under the constraints of our not so current, current Constitution. In a certain respect it differs in no way from Prof. John Crown’s bill. Election of the Seanad’s members will be opened up to all Irish citizens, both at home, in Northern Ireland and to our roving fleet of disenfranchised former resident citizens…P.P. has heard them being called the diaspora. Furthermore, allowances would be made for Senators to consider concerns of the public in a far more tangible way with the introduction a citizens petition programme. Most uniquely and interestingly, provision would be made for a gender balanced Seanad.

What’s that you say? Quotas?!

Not quite, more like sub-quotas. Each panel constituency that exists currently would be elected from sub panels with a legally enshrined guarantee of a gender balanced ballot. The electorate may choose who they wish but they will be offered a half n’ half scenario in terms of men and women on the ballot.

One last kicker, a 50 per cent reduction in Senators wages…P.P. imagines we probably won’t hear anyone complaining about populist motives on this particular nugget.

The Prof. John Crown Bill

It seems this is the more common sense, get the bill passed quickly option. It presumably wasn’t conceived from that perspective but it seems to tick that box in relation to the process.

As mentioned earlier, there would be universal suffrage to elect the upper house in the same manner as the Sen. Zappone and Quinn bill. Same again, Irish citizens in the Republic, in the North and abroad.

There is however an interesting tilt at changing the university panel system to include the erstwhile shunned Institutes of Technology of our country. This truly seems to be a common sense measure considering this country’s rapid advancement within the I.T sector of late. Otherwise things are relatively unharassed. Good for legislative traction.

The Nuclear Option

There’s no doubt in P.P.’s mind that if either bill were made law it would change the Seanad for the better but there is an option otherwise. A referendum of revolution.

Hyperbole aside, the constitution insists upon us that our executive, (Taoiseach) Enda and de lads, can pick 11 of their own through a raffle or whatever other uber democractic method they have been applying all this time. Panels of those who have risen to the top and somehow want to go further are graced with the remaining 49 seats.

This dynamic is essentially untouchable in its current guise unless a referendum is held to unlock it. Furthermore, universal suffrage for the Seanad can only occur through a postal voting system. If we can’t get more than the man and his dog ( average of 37.3 per cent turnout for the last three amendments) into the polling station, P.P. worries the post office will be too elaborate and confusing a prospect for the already detached electorate.

With the Constitution Convention due to convene for another 12 months, the idea of a new 2015 constitution is an interesting if exhausting prospect. This country will have to prepare for referendum after referendum in the coming years if we are to catch our primary legal document (Const.) up with where our society stands today and where it may stand in the future, Seanad and all.

Our current document is 76 years old. Meaningful, far-reaching reform may only be attained through one of two options, another stack of amendments (33 presently) in the next few years, or maybe we can strap ourselves in and put in some substantive work for the benefit of multiple generations.