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Seanad vote: Voting underway in Republic of Ireland referendums | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Voting is underway in the Republic of Ireland's Senate and Court of Appeal referendums. | |
The Seanad Éireann (Irish senate) is the upper house of the Irish Parliament and has existed for more than 90 years. | The Seanad Éireann (Irish senate) is the upper house of the Irish Parliament and has existed for more than 90 years. |
The current Irish government has said it costs too much to run and is no longer necessary in the democratic process. | The current Irish government has said it costs too much to run and is no longer necessary in the democratic process. |
Opponents want it retained and reformed, saying it plays an essential role in holding governments to account. | Opponents want it retained and reformed, saying it plays an essential role in holding governments to account. |
Seanad Éireann was established in 1922, just months after the foundation of what was then known as the Irish Free State. | Seanad Éireann was established in 1922, just months after the foundation of what was then known as the Irish Free State. |
The Seanad's powers and functions were originally modelled on the British House of Lords, providing a bicameral system of government where the upper house scrutinises and amends bills that originate mainly in the lower house. | The Seanad's powers and functions were originally modelled on the British House of Lords, providing a bicameral system of government where the upper house scrutinises and amends bills that originate mainly in the lower house. |
It cannot block legislation passed by the Dáil (lower house) but it can delay it by up to three months. However, it has not used this power since 1964. | It cannot block legislation passed by the Dáil (lower house) but it can delay it by up to three months. However, it has not used this power since 1964. |
More than three million people are eligible to vote on whether or not to abolish the Seanad. | More than three million people are eligible to vote on whether or not to abolish the Seanad. |
They will also be voting on whether or not to establish a Court of Appeal and other changes to the courts system. | |
More than 6,000 polling stations across the Irish Republic will remain open until 22:00 BST on Friday. | More than 6,000 polling stations across the Irish Republic will remain open until 22:00 BST on Friday. |
A spokesman for the Department of the Environment warned on Thursday that writing on ballot papers could jeopardise votes as returning officers could deem them spoiled. | A spokesman for the Department of the Environment warned on Thursday that writing on ballot papers could jeopardise votes as returning officers could deem them spoiled. |