SENATORS have warned they will take their case to the High Court unless a date is set for the first Seanad sitting after February’s general election.
Labour’s Ivana Bacik has written to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar along with Senator Michael McDowell and eight others demanding clarity on the constitutional issue.
They want Mr Varadkar to set a date for the first sitting of the Seanad – without the 11 nominees of the Taoiseach – so that vital legislation can be passed.
The alliance say they will apply to the High Court for a determination if the Taoiseach can’t advise President Michael D Higgins to fix a date.
Senator Bacik said it was the group’s understanding and belief that in the present situation the elected members of the Seanad can meet and legislate.
She added: “Our democratic assembly should not be frozen from legislating and there is a looming deadline of the end of June for the review and renewal of certain provisions under the Offences Against the State Acts.
“This is an unlikely political alliance but we have come together on this point of law as it is our belief that legal clarification is required on our status.”
Including Senator Bacik, the ten signatories to the letter are Victor Boyhan, Gerard Craughwell, Annie Hoey, Sharon Keogan, Michael McDowell, Rebecca Moynihan, Ronan Mullen, Marie Sherlock and Mark Wall.
Meanwhile, government formation talks continued yesterday with discussions focusing on transport.
A significant amount of text was redrafted on Friday and negotiators were last night attempting to sign off on a broad range of issues.
Fianna Fail’s Micheal Martin, Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar and Green Party’s Eamon Ryan are due to meet today.
