The Fine Gael Senator made the call after a row between the Oireachtas and the National Museum over where the upper house would be moved while renovations take place.
He said that taking the Seanad outside of Dublin would allow Senators to get much closer to the people that they represent.
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“The National Museum doesn’t want us, so we need to look outside the box, and look outside the pale. Cork is the obvious first choice,” he said.
Mr Lombard said that the council chambers in either City Hall or County Hall would be perfect for hosting the Seanad. He said that he has already pitched the idea to his party colleague Lord Mayor Des Cahill, who was on board with the idea.
He said that a change of location would create a bit of buzz and allow people to interact with the Seanad and see what it does.
“We want Senators to interact with people, and this is the obvious way to do it. Why should we be stuck in some conclave in Dublin?” he said.
There has been tension between the Oireachtas and the National Museum — which is located next to Leinster House — over using the museum as a temporary parliamentary chamber.
The museum has been used in the past while previous renovations were carried out, but recent actions by the Government have strained the relationship.
![Senator Tim Lombard.]()
Senator Tim Lombard.
The museum was used by Minister Heather Humphreys to house staff associated with the 1916 centenary commemorations, and one former director has said that the Government is trying to diminish the museum and “grab” the space.
“I can’t but think that there is a plan afoot here in the Department of Arts to undermine the museum, to diminish it, reduce its importance in that area of Dublin and the Board of Works are not without blemish here,” said Pat Wallace.
“Cost isn’t the museum’s issue. The museum’s issue is to look after its own space.
“Why do we count for so little in a neighbourhood that we were the pioneers of? We were there before the Oireachtas,” he added.
He said that the museum would be forced to terminate a number of exhibitions and education projects if the temporary move happened.
However, the Department of Arts has said that serious investment would be made in the museum to accommodate the Seanad, including new spaces that could be used for education, and an elevator that would make some of the upper floors wheelchair accessible for the first time.
“The National Museum doesn’t want us, so we need to look outside the box, and look outside the pale. Cork is the obvious first choice,” he said.