The Deputy Leader of Fine Gael has said he supports the decision of his party leader Enda Kenny to abolish the Seanad if the party forms the next government.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Richard Bruton said the way the Dáil did its business was 'anachronistic' and that we could do without the Seanad.
Enda Kenny said he first signalled a desire for a radical change in politics in July.
Mr Kenny has promised a constitutional referendum to abolish the Seanad should Fine Gael form the next Government.
Speaking at the Fine Gael presidential dinner over the weekend, he vowed this would happen within his party's first year of government.
On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Kenny rejected criticism that there had been no consultation with party members.
Mr Kenny said the Seanad had outgrown his usefulness and that he had tried very hard to justify the existence of the Seanad.
'When you peel away the layers, and look at what it does, its legislative function has faded,’ he said.
'What I want is a stronger democracy, a more accountable Dáil and more powerful committees where the public can see their politicians do the job for which they were elected.’
'In July I made it perfectly clear that I was considering a real, radical agenda in terms of a way we do politics in Ireland, and I signalled that.
'The clock is ticking for this country, leadership is about leading, and change is always difficult.
'What I want is a much stronger, much more accountable Dáil.
'I’ve taken a leader’s initiative on this, and that’s what leaders are for'.
He said his mind was ‘not for changing on this matter’.
