Fears grow in Fine Gael over Seanad revolt on Bill

FINE Gael are acutely concerned that a Michael McDowell-led Seanad revolt will delay the completion of the politically dangerous Judicial Appointments Commission Bill (JAC) Bill until the autumn.

The Seanad is scheduled to debate the Bill next week.

However, the delicate balance of power in the Seanad, where Fine Gael just have 20 of the 60 seats, means that even if FG secure the support of the six Sinn Féin senators, the passage of the Bill will be difficult.

The JAC Bill has already struggled in the Dáil after an ambush by Fianna Fáil narrowly failed to defeat it.

However, it has even fewer friends in the Seanad where pressure is intensifying on the Government to delay its final passage until autumn.

This would allow the Seanad to examine the Bill against the backdrop of a report by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption.

The Bill has passed all stages in the Dáil. If the Seanad does vote down the Bill they only possess the power to delay it.