A margin of 42,500 votes granted anti-abolition campaigners victory in the referendum to decide the future of the Seanad. 

This week on the Sunday Show, Shane Coleman was joined by a panel to discuss the results of the referendum- which surprised many. The prospect of reform of both houses of the Oireachtas and what shape these reforms could take was also on the agenda.

Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe, Harry McGee of the Irish Times, Professor David Farrell from the UCD School of Politics, Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Carol Hunt from the Sunday Independent all contributed to the discussion, which examined the campaign tactics; the presence, or lack possibly thereof , of Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the future of the Seanad.

Paschal Donohoe rejected accusations that the absence of the Taoiseach and top ministers from the debate affected the outcome. Instead he has attributed the 52 percent no vote to the deep caution with which Irish people approach changing our State institutions.

The future role and powers of the Seanad was discussed as David Farrell looked at upper houses abroad as well as the possibility of the Seanad coming up for discussion at the Constitutional Convention.

You can listen to the whole discussion below: