The Taoiseach says he wants to consider appointing people to the Seanad just to put them in Cabinet.

Enda Kenny says he wants to consider direct appointments to Cabinet if he is elected to lead the next government.

Less than 18 months after the public rejected his bid to abolish the Seanad, Mr Kenny now says he might use it to appoint some ministers.

He says that if he is elected Taoiseach again, he will consider using some of his 11 nominations to the Seanad simply so he can put some of them into Cabinet.

Legally, it is possible for two members of Cabinet to come from the Seanad - but in the history of the state, it has only ever happened three times.

And only once - in 1981 - has a minister been directly appointed to the Seanad by the Taoiseach.

But Mr Kenny says he will think about it if he is elected for a second time.

It might mean a dramatic change in the way ministers are chosen.

Last year the Constitutional Convention backed the idea of appointing ministers from outside the Dáil - and it could yet become more common.