TWO REFERENDUMS are being held on the same day as the Presidential election and the Dublin West by-election. One concerns judges’ pay, while the other proposes granting powers of inquiry to the two Houses of the Oireachtas – the Dáil and the Seanad.
That referendum proposes adding new text to the Constitution under Article 15.10 to grant either House (or both acting together) the power to carry out inquiries into the actions of any person, whether or not they are a TD or a Senator, “in a manner provided for by law”.
The proposed change would also mean the Houses of the Oireachtas “may make findings in respect of the conduct of that person concerning the matter to which the inquiry relates”. Such an inquiry could mean an end to costly Tribunals.
The wording of the proposed text has been criticised for its vagueness, with some saying that it doesn’t say how the rights of the individual will be protected if they are the subject of such an inquiry. It also doesn’t specify how a person could defend themselves or be represented at an Oireachtas inquiry.
Today we’re asking, how will you be voting on the Oireachtas inquiries referendum?
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