Government has two years to expand Seanad electorate, Supreme Court rules

THE SUPREME COURT has given the government until 31 May 2025 to legislate on the expansion of the Seanad electorate.

However, he emphasised that the Court is concerned with “limiting the period of permitted operation of the invalid law so far as is possible”. He accepted that “a single, relatively lengthy, period of suspension is sufficient” and rejected the State’s request for an extension until July 2027. Speaking on the ruling today, Heneghan said: “For forty-four years, eighteen Irish governments have failed or refused to enact the necessary law to provide for the expansion of the Seanad franchise in line with the decision of the electorate in 1979.

The Free Legal Advice Centre, who represented Heneghan, welcomed the judgement, with Sinéad Lucey, FLAC Managing Solicitor, saying: “The deadline set by the Court aligns with the date by which the next Seanad election must be held – with the intention that the necessary reforms to voting laws are enacted before that election takes place.

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