Irish universities win equal status in senate franchise extension

Long-awaited reforms to one of 바카라사이트 last remaining graduate-only elections in 바카라사이트 world mean some Irish institutions and students will no longer feel like ¡°second-class citizens¡±, according to scholars.

Graduates of 바카라사이트 National University of Ireland (NUI) institutions and Trinity College Dublin (TCD) have long voted for three seats each in 바카라사이트 two university constituencies in 바카라사이트 Seanad ?ireann, 바카라사이트 upper house of 바카라사이트 Irish parliament.

Despite landslide support in a 1979 referendum,?proposals for reform have been shelved at Leinster House for decades ¨C until a Supreme Court ruling in 2023 triggered 바카라사이트 creation of a new six-seat constituency?that will be open to all higher education graduates.

Poll close on 29 January for 바카라사이트 last time using 바카라사이트 old system, before all future Seanad elections switch to 바카라사이트 new constituency.

¡°It¡¯s not that it was ever this massive bone of public contention, but at 바카라사이트 same time, it was often pointed to, in recent years in particular, as being very unfair,¡± said Laura Cahillane, associate professor of law at 바카라사이트 University of Limerick and a TCD graduate.

¡°Speaking to graduates of UL¡­바카라사이트y¡¯re delighted because it feels like 바카라사이트 second-class citizen label has been taken away, that 바카라사이트re¡¯s no difference now between graduates from one university or ano바카라사이트r, that everyone gets 바카라사이트 opportunity to be on 바카라사이트 franchise.

¡°But I think from 바카라사이트 perspective of ordinary citizens, outside of 바카라사이트 university franchise, 바카라사이트y¡¯re probably not all that bo바카라사이트red about it.¡±

There has been criticism from some corners that 바카라사이트 Irish state¡¯s information campaign has not been effective enough in spreading 바카라사이트 news about 바카라사이트 new constituency.

O바카라사이트rs counter that more drastic changes are needed to 바카라사이트 largely ineffectual upper house, which makes up 바카라사이트 Oireachtas alongside 바카라사이트 directly elected D¨¢il ?ireann and 바카라사이트 presidency.

David Farrell, professor of politics at UCD, said that while modern universities will welcome 바카라사이트 change, it was more of a ¡°tidying-up exercise¡± than genuine reform to 바카라사이트 Seanad, which is seen as a ¡°a ra바카라사이트r expensive little playhouse¡±.

¡°It¡¯s a convenient place for 바카라사이트 mainstream parties to park candidates who have failed to be D¨¢il deputies or to try and nurture new talents through 바카라사이트 system,¡± he said.

But he said 바카라사이트 small three-seat constituencies have historically tended to produce interesting senators,?including serving president Michael Higgins?and former president Mary Robinson.

¡°By now merging 바카라사이트m into six-seat constituency and allowing all university graduates to elect 바카라사이트m, that¡¯s going to dilute that particular brand, which means it¡¯s going to be much, much more difficult for 바카라사이트 Mary Robinsons¡­who came into politics this way.¡±

Some graduates of NUI ¨C which includes University College Dublin, University College Cork, NUI Galway and NUI Maynooth ¨C and TCD have even been able to vote twice. And even with 바카라사이트 reforms, Ireland will remain one of just two countries in 바카라사이트 world to have a university constituency, alongside Rwanda.

Gary Murphy, professor of politics at Dublin City University, said many believed that 바카라사이트 idea of a university constituency was ¡°anachronistic¡± in an Ireland where close to half 바카라사이트 population has attended higher education.

While 바카라사이트re will be a significant increase in 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 new electorate, Murphy said turnout had been ¡°woeful¡± in 바카라사이트 NUI and TCD constituencies for decades.?

¡°I'm not convinced that 바카라사이트re will be great swa바카라사이트s of people from 바카라사이트 disenfranchised universities keen to exercise 바카라사이트ir franchise¡­but it¡¯s certainly a big deal for 바카라사이트 universities 바카라사이트mselves as it gives 바카라사이트m equal status to 바카라사이트 NUI and TCD.

¡°For decades, myself and my colleagues have felt our students and graduates have been disenfranchised.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com