Dear Editor,

I am writing to bring to the attention of readers of The Avondhu the campaign of Democracy Matters, a recently established national independent citizens’ group, which will campaign in support of a reformed Seanad Éireann.

On 4th October, the people will cast their ballots in a referendum brought forward by the Government with a view to abolishing the Seanad. This referendum will represent an important crossroads in Ireland’s democracy.

If this referendum is carried, Ireland will be left with a single chamber parliament. This will limit the scope of political debate, it will reduce the level of scrutiny of legislation, it will leave less room for minority voices in our political system and it will give more power to a dysfunctional and unreformed Dáil.

Instead of crude abolition, Democracy Matters wants to give all Irish people a stake in the Seanad’s future. We are campaigning in support of a new Seanad in which every Irish citizen will be able to vote.

This country needs a strengthened democracy, not less democracy.

Democracy Matters believes that a new Seanad with real powers can play an important role in delivering better politics and fixing our broken economy. The reforms we are proposing will deliver greater gender balance, real accountability, more transparency and will give a voice in our national parliament to emigrants and to people in Northern Ireland.

Democracy Matters is not aligned to any political party and we are campaigning solely on the issue of Seanad reform. Unlike the main political parties, we do not have access to exchequer funding and nor do we have the capacity to spend huge resources on this campaign. Instead, we are relying on the support and commitment of concerned citizens nationwide to run a vigorous and energetic campaign to secure comprehensive political reform.

I want to appeal to the people to vote ‘no’ and reject this referendum which will weaken our democracy and mutilate our constitution. Anyone wishing to get involved in our campaign in support of a ‘no’ vote would be most welcome and should contact our organiser, Tiernan Reilly at treilly.dm@gmail.com or sign up on our website www.democracymatters.ie

Yours sincerely,

Senator Feargal Quinn.