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BRENDAN HOWLIN, MINISTER for Public Expenditure and Reform, has suggested in an interview at Dublin Castle that a ‘No’ vote for the Oireachtas Committee Constitutional amendment won’t be the end of it.
Speaking at Dublin Castle just before Michael D Higgins was officially presented as new President-elect of Ireland, Howlin said that “if it [the amendment] is defeated, we’re going to have to think again about how we’re to get our reform agenda back on track”.
He was asked if that meant that the Government was still committed to putting forward legislation surround Oireachtas Committees.
Howlin answered:
It’s going to be very difficult to have the sort of parliament that this Government is committed to having, and that is an Oireachtas that holds the Executive to account robustly, that seeks after truth, that ensures it’s done efficiently and effectively, without powers that are close to or analgous to the ones we proposed.
The minister did not indicate if he was thinking of returning the amendment for a second referendum at a later stage, should it fail to pass this time.
He also lamented the difficulty of presenting the detail of constitutional amendments against “the backdrop of a lot of controversy” in the last few days of the Presidential election. He said it was particularly difficult when “a direct challenge was made on a matter of fact; it’s very difficult to rebut that in a very short timeframe”.
His comments come as the counts on the Constitutional amendments are being tallied. It is looking like the amendment on judge’s pay will be passed but it looks less likely that the one on extending powers to Oireachtas committees will succeed.
Justice Minister Alan Shatter said earlier on RTÉ Radio One that he thought the result for the Oireachtas committees’ rights of inquiries would be very tight. He also claimed that coverage of the Presidential election had overshadowed the referendums.
However, Howlin defended the committees one, saying that there was “a mood and an appetite for reform in the last general election” and the Government “can’t just abandon that”. He said:
The proposals we had, you know, weren’t exactly plucked out of the air. The all-party committee on the constitution looked at the proposals for a year. I thought a very careful balance was struck, the legislation to accompany it was published in draft form to allow for inputs, before they were finalised, and I went before the Oireachtas committee to see their views on it, so it was a carefully crafted proposal to bring more accountability and to get a better mechanism – a more efficient mechanism – to get to the truth.But the last few days, because questions were asked and people were confused, the informed view of a lot of people is ‘No. If in doubt, say no.’ That’s going to pose a challenge to us in the future to bring about the reforms, the changes – both in the constitution and in the law – to make us a more accountable, more open, more transparent polity and public administration.
He said that while it isn’t “over yet” and it “may well carry”, he feels that it is only “the start of the reform agenda”. Other issues he says are coming down the line for reform include the Freedom of Information Act, the whistle-blowers’ legislation, the register of lobbyists, a review of the Constitution and the Children’s Rights amendment.
- additional reporting by Susan Daly
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How many people are using the train from Howth versus coming from all the way down the East Coast from Drogheda? I can’t see Howth residents winning this. Nor should they really……
They’re not being cut off, they’re just being asked to join the main line. And if it increases the number of trains surely that’s a good thing overall?
@Tricia G: yeah it’s probably the sensible change.It won’t be without issues though. Irish rail/gardai will probably have to address howth junction station. It’s like a ghetto at the best of times. And the howth train is brimming with tourists daily (1000s on the weekends) who will need changover here. It’s also a busy enough commute but I dont know the numbers exactly.Then there will be the knock on effect of traffic on the Dublin road with people deciding not to take train. And also parking in howth (which is currently free) if people find it more hassle too get train. There is also a massive apartment complex being built beside howth station. Bound to increase demand.
I can understand why they are complaining. Most people don’t want to be inconvenienced but it happens I guess.
@Tricia G: it’s looks like that the entire area from Lusk to Drogheda will become a huge Dublin suburb. There’s a lot of housing developments in Lusk, Rush, Skerries, Balbriggan, Laytown, Bettystown and Morington. The DART will encourage even more developments.
@Tricia G: many people may have bought a house in Howth because of the DART line. Why not just do both, there are already separate DARTS to Howth and Malahide. Start building a proper public network around the city and into the suburbs not along the coast.
@Tipper Irie: because we haven’t built any new rail since the Brits were here as far as I know and wont have any for a long time. DART+ will just be using the existing lines which are already congested, it’s not as simple as just putting more direct trains from Howth.
@Tipper Irie: Only so many trains can operate at a time. MAYBE yes, one “express” train an hour perhaps with all others requiring a change but implementation and timing is challenging.
@Paul Furey: I’d argue they’re already part of the “Dublin suburb” and a better public transport system is required to reduce the numbers currently forced to drive.
@Tipper Irie: more efficient logistically doing it with the shuttle train…… Inconvenient for the people from Howth line who won’t be virtually guaranteed a seat
@Colm Kane: As someone who used to commute on a train from the first stop so I always got a seat, this is the bit I’d be raging about.
That would suck, to go from always getting a seat to having to stand because you’re joining halfway down the line.
@Paul Furey: They have all been surburbs for years!
@Colm Kane: Everyone is changing trains the shuttles run from Howth Junction to the city!
@Tricia G: as someone from Howth who depends on the dart daily I think it’s a disgrace! Why should we have to change over? There just needs to be an increased frequency and capacity over all!
And to answer your comment about how many people use the service, it’s a hell of a lot and would have a much greater impact on our local economy than drogheda
@James Moore: you should have to change because in doing this it makes the dart a better service for way more people than live in howth while only inconveniencing you a little
@eoin fitzpatrick: it’s not just inconveniencing me it’s 100s of local passengers per day not to mention the amount of tourists who come out to Howth. Also there is only one road in and out of Howth and the traffic is already bad and making people change darts will only encourage the people affected by this proposed change to drive therefore making the traffic worse! The people who live on the train line have much more options in terms of different routes they can take if forced to drive than those of us on the proposed affected side
@James Moore: it’s not just about Drogheda though, is it? It’s about a population more than 5 times bigger, possibly 10, actually getting a service that works. So a hell of a lot more. Howth will still have a service, and a far better one than up the coast at the moment. So cut the selfish moaning, and look at the bigger picture.
Honestly we need to do whatever works best for the greater amount of people. If people from Howth have to change big deal. We can’t have a few moaners bring the quality of services down overall. This kind of stuff is what holds this country’s infrastructure back.
@eoin fitzpatrick: it won’t bring the quality of the service down to keep both tracks running to the city directly if they increase the capacity and frequency of trains! Everywhere is experiencing development and issues with public transport so it is madness to suggest to ask a sizeable amount of commuters to change and make their commute even longer! The train is packed from bayside onwards
@James Moore: they can’t do this as the line is already too congested
@eoin fitzpatrick: exactly this. “sacrificed for Drogheda” – such hysterical hyperbole.
If you are a resident in Howth, Sutton, Baldoyle, or surrounding areas, or even travelling that general direction, there are 3 level crossings in very close proximity. Unless trains can fly, the extra capacity and frequency will cause massive traffic jams at level crossings, which will have a severe impact on school runs or shopping. It will also kill a struggling tourist market in Howth. Myopic planning proposal, in my opinion.
@B2dL Me/You: true. Fair point.
@B2dL Me/You: They are closing the level crossings!
@B2dL Me/You: well said. Traffic is already really bad when the gates are down at the moment, so their proposal will mean gates will be down for 30 mins of every hour. Can you imagine the tailbacks which will affect those trying to get to Sutton and Howth and those trying to get to the Airport/ M50. Not alone that but extra capacity will be needed due to the hundreds of apartments they’re building. There has to be a better alternative (perhaps reduce the number of darts from Howth / to Howth, but make them express). They are trying to make public transport attractive to all, this proposal certainly defeats that. It’s so Irish, keep on building out in the suburbs but don’t build any new infrastructure to support it.
After moving from Bayside to Rush last year I can honestly say that I don’t believe this is a great idea. The Dart is rammed at rush hour from Bayside onwards. I have yet to get on a busier train from Rush. And absolutely nobody lives near the Rush & Lusk station, it’s bizarre.
@Jen Mc: pretty sure there will be a lot more trains running so that might help congestion
@eoin fitzpatrick: would you want to have change trains? I wouldn’t, especially in winter. Considering they don’t even match up the bus and train out in Rush, I can’t see this being a case where you step off the train at Howth Junction and catch a train to town straight away.
@Jen Mc: if only there was a solution to having crowded trains….I dunno maybe increase frequency and capacity …oh wait that’s what being proposed ?? And some people don’t think it’s a good idea to add more trains double capacity and more frequent services ……because the existing services are too full ?
Hmmm…
@Jen Mc: Rush&Lusk is hardly typical of the entire line. Nor is linking train/bus timetables particularly relevant to coordinating trains with each other. It’s desperately needed further north, and cocooned Howth-dwellers need to wake up and smell the coffee.
Howth Junction/ kilbarrack was always a hub of anti social behaviour. Now add thousands of visitors/ normal travellers to Baldoyle, Bayside, Sutton and Howth. The beach at Sutton and Howth are literally packed when the sun comes out. From May to September, burrow Road is like a pedestrian area and cars are backed up from Clontarf up to Howth on the coast road. Guards have trouble keeping peace in Sutton and Howth and now all these 1000′s of additional passengers will have to stand at Howth Junction together. Initially they proposed a bus from Howth Junction and now a feeder train.
Massive immigration is fueling the need for more trains, schools, hospitals etc.. Population in Ireland went up by 90,000 last year alone. Metro Boston, MA has added about 1M more people in the past 30 years. Cramming people into small spaces is not a great strategy.
@Paulco: cramming people into small spaces actually is a great strategy compared to spreading people out in urban sprawl
@Paulco: 90,000 is an anomaly, if you look at Ireland’s 30 year pattern. And really it’s an underpopulated country. People have just got very used to space for increased urban sprawl, without proper increase in infrastructure. So now both issues need to be tackled.
Eamonn Ryan keeps going on about using public transport yet the Dart does not operate before 0900 on a Sunday.
If the new proposals to change at Howth Junction dont guarantee a seat maybe its time to start driving instead. Also the journey time is longer and more inconvenient
And yet still no Dart to Balbriggan! Only the south side gets it all the way to Greystones!!
Why not keep the current system, add a track, do direct Dublin to Drogheda and back peak hours and a slow one with more stops including one to change onto the Howth Dublin line.
@Colm Molloy: because that bypasses all the other places that need a proper service, perhaps?
I see Eoin Fitzpatrick wants to live in a glorified Ballymun tower where kids have no green space and live 14 stories up in the air. No wonder couples aren’t having as many kids anymore.
@Paulco: much of the world live in apartment towers not everyone is afraid of having neighbours. if you’re concerned with lack of green spaces, dense living in 14 stories is what you should be promoting. If everyone in dense cities were to move into sprawled out suburbs and one offs it would take up far more space and leave less areas green. pretty straightforward.
@Paulco: not all high-rise is the same as Ballymun, which seems to be thrown out as a hysterical buzzword whenever such plans are suggested. The error there was building a ready-made ghetto.
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