A Senator has accused Fine Gael of lying in relation to the savings to be made by scrapping the Seanad.

John Crown was speaking at a Newstalk debate on The Pat Kenny Show in Trinity College on the Senand referendum.

The government have said by closing the upper house the taxpayer could be saved €20 million a year.

Senator Crown laid out his stall as to why the Seanad needs to stay.

While Fine Gael TD for Dublin-Central Pascal Donohoe outlined why he thinks the Seanad should go.

Separately, last night the Jobs Minister and the Fianna Fáil leader faced each other in TV debate on the referendum.

Richard Bruton and Micheál Martin clashed on reforming politics, and whether the upper house is democratic.