Senator Barry Ward talks Seanad reform in Episode 5. Barry is joined by two former TDs: Senator Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fáil – Wexford); and former Leader of Seanad Éireann and current Chancellor of the National University of Ireland, Dr Maurice Manning.



Malcolm Byrne was elected to the 32nd Dáil for the Wexford Constituency in a by-election in November 2019; he was subsequently elected to the 26th Seanad on the Cultural & Educational Panel and is the author, along with his fellow-Fianna Fáil Senators Pat Casey and Shane Cassells, of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020. This episode explores the role of the Seanad, the upper house of the Irish parliament, its potential and what reforms are needed to broaden its scope.
Follow Senator Malcolm Byrne on Twitter @malcombyrne, on Instagram @malcolmbyrne, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/malcolmbyrne, or at www.fiannafail.ie/reps/senator-malcolm-byrne.



Maurice Manning was a member of the Oireachtas, the Irish parliament, for 21 years, serving as a Senator on the Cultural & Educational Panel in the 15th , 18th, 19th, 21st and 22nd Seanaid, and as TD for Dublin North-East in the 23rd and 24th Dála. Maurice Manning also authored the Manning Report on Seanad Reform in 2015, which recommended extensive “root and branch” reform of the upper house, and which formed the basis for the Seanad Bill 2020, sponsored by Senators Michael McDowell, Gerard Craughwell and Alice Mary Higgins.

Find out about Dr Maurice Manning at www.nui.ie/about/chancellor.asp and www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Maurice-Manning.S.1981-10-08.



You can read about the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020 here: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2020/11/



You can read about the Seanad Bill 2020 here: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2020/47/




The Irish Legislation Podcast is presented by Senator Barry Ward.

Follow Barry on

Twitter twitter.com/barrymward;

Instagram www.instagram.com/barrym_ward;

Facebook at www.facebook.com/BarryWard.ie;

or his web site: www.barryward.ie.



E-mail barry.ward@oireachtas.ie with any comments or suggestions.