Major reforms of the Seanad have been proposed by an all-party committee, including scrapping the current system of vocational panels, allowing all third-level graduates a vote, and increasing the number of Senators by five.
Currently, 11 Senators are appointed by the Taoiseach, six elected by graduates of Trinity College and the National University of Ireland, and 43 are elected by county councillors and Oireachtas members, on five so-called 'vocational panels'.
The proposals put forward by the Committee are:
* 26 Senators should be elected under a list-PR system to a national constituency, at the same time as the local and European elections.
* Six should be elected under PR-STV to a higher education constituency at the same time (graduates can opt to vote in either the national or the higher education contest).
* 20 should be indirectly elected under PR-STV to a national constituency by county councillors and Oireachtas members, within 90 days of a Dáil election.
* 12 senators, including two from Northern Ireland, should be nominated by the Taoiseach.
* The outgoing Cathaoirleach should be returned automatically.
The leader of the House, Senator Mary O'Rourke, said the Taoiseach had agreed to appont an implementation group under Environment Minister Martin Cullen to look at the proposals, which would require constitutional change.
