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REPORTS THAT DRAFT proposals for the establishment of the Constitutional Convention are to be finalised shortly have been welcomed with caution by various civil rights groups.
According to RTÉ, the Cabinet met last night to discuss setting up the convention and details of its makeup will be eked out after consultation with Opposition parties.
In the Programme for Government, the coalition said it would set up the convention to examine possible changes to the constitution.
It will consider comprehensive constitutional reform in variety of areas, including the Dáil’s electoral system and the possibility of reducing the presidential term to five years.
Other issues to be tabled include aligning elections, amending the clause on women in the home and encouraging greater participation of women in public life.
It is understood that the convention will have 100 members, made up of 66 citizens, 33 political representatives and a chairperson.
Within 12 months, the Government said it will also produce a report on the possibilities of removing blasphemy from the constitution, reducing the voting age and any other relevant constitutional amendments that may be recommended by the convention.
The provision for same-sex marriage is also a key item to be reviewed and reported on.
Cautious welcome
Welcoming reports of the draft proposals today, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties said the review body should not be “cooked up behind closed doors”.
The independent human rights watchdog urged the Government to consult widely on the proposed architecture of the convention.
ICCL director Mark Kelly said, “Changing the constitution should never be done lightly, so it is essential that there be proper consultation about the makeup of the new constitutional conventions.”
As the convention will consider the provision of marriage equality for same-sex couples, the reports of imminent draft proposals were also welcomed by organisations supporting gay and lesbian unions.
Marriage Equality’s Moninne Griffth said the group will “fully engage” with the process. However, she asked for members to take steps to ensure that the voices of those affected by the marriage ban are heard.
GLEN also welcomed the announcement that the “agreement in principle” had been made at Cabinet level. The equality network said the convention provides a “critical opportunity” to build on the progress achieved with the civil partnership bill last year.
“GLEN’s goal, and that of lesbian and gay people, is access to civil marriage which, according to the Colley Report is the only option that would achieve equality of status with opposite-sex couples and which would underpin a wider equality for lesbian and gay people,” said group chair Kieran Rose.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin has called on the Taoiseach to ensure full consultation with Opposition parties.
“If this Government is serious about the business of reform it needs to get the constitutional convention up and running,” said the party’s deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald.
She also asked Enda Kenny to confirm his commitment that the constitutional convention will consider the issue of voting rights, including those of Irish citizens in the north for presidential elections.
Much has changed in Ireland since 1937, and changed absolutely. It is in this context that we believe the convention must also consider an entirely new constitution.
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What are you doing with a picture of that daft bint? I thought we had got rid of her.
Is there something to do with butterflies and bees being discussed?
I would change so much of the Irish Constitution that it would be best to start from scratch. I would airbrush Dev’s/Charles McQuids hand completely. The opening is an embarrassment. In the name of the most holy trinity. The relegation of women it speaks of is despicable. The perceived creator of the universe has rights under Bunreacht na hEireann. Homage is owed to him. (I would love to see that challenged by Jesus vs Fingal CoCo in the high court) The blasphemy law is acting as an incitement to Islamic nations to push for similar laws that are literally resulting in deaths and prison sentences for those speaking obvious common sense. But not another picture of Dana holding that goddamn book.
The only mention of religion should be that everyone has the right to a religion but there should not be holy god this and Jesus that riddled through the constitution
Why is there a picture of a US citizen attached to this article?
I am not opposed to the idea, but a similar group was cobbled together in 1995 to examine Constitutional reforms. They spent the next few years on occasion working on on a report with a variety of recommendations.
Then Fianna Fáil came to power and sat on it for the next 14 years. Hopefully the new group instead of wasting time will use and extend the findings of the old group.
Not once in the above report – and NO fault of journal.ie, they are only reporting what’s been announced – do I see mention of fathers rights in the constitution been updated and addressed!
Nothing!
Shame on our politicians and useless government created quango’s!
So the disillusioned Marxists of Labour are also disillusioned with Ireland and it’s constitution. This convention will be carefully crafted to come up with the desired results – the ’66 citizens’ hand picked to rubber stamp the hideous spawn of Gimore/Bacik.
Says in loud manic tone with an aggressive Glen Beck look. “WHAT ABOUT HITLER AND STALIN THEY WERE ATHEISTS”? To anyone who still compares those who campaign for a religiously neutral State with equality for all and intellectual honesty in its schools with the regimes of Hitler, Stalin etc, I have just one question to ask actually two. Are you taking any prescription medication? If the answer is yes have you stopped taking it?
Well Cyril, as you seem to have the false belief that I mentioned Hitler and Stalin I could ask the same question of you.
I refer you to your first sentence “disillusioned Marxists of Labour” A brief history lesson the first political Marxist regime the Bolsheviks (Lenin Stalin etc). if you think the labour party are even hard socialists let alone communist, I still think the two questions need to be answered.
Touchy
The constitution should be rewritten for the people of this country. No reference to supernatural beings or Harry Potter style spells and chants. We as human beings should be represented and protected not ghosts spooks and goblins.
Why don’t we pick a country that’s strong on civil liberties … Photocopy theirs and use it !,,
Sweden.
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