While Irish politics means as much to you as the weather in Scotland, I thought this was a rather interesting referendum coming, hidden alongside tomorrow's presidental election.
Currently, inquiry's are instead handled through the judiciary, with a tribunal being warranted to prepare a report to be published publicly. Anyone called before a tribunal is entitled to their legal representation and legal rights. They're regarded as a bit toothless, not being able to punish, only to report on what happened, which goes in to shaping government policy. Partly, this is because the constitution never gave the houses of government the power to establish their own inquiry's within themselves. Currently, you can not be required to testify before the Dáil, or the Seanad in this country.
But not for long, because tomorrow, this little amendment to the constitution is going to the vote tomorrow.
Now. I've highlighted the most worrying section for your convenience. Essentially, what it means is, if the houses is able to determine that the public's interest is important enough, they can throw your legal rights out the door.
The most staggering thing to me is, most people don't realise this. Most people are transfixed by the ongoing 7-ring circus around the Presidential election, which is turning into a farce of terrorist accusations, skeletons in closets, 'assassination attempts', the word 'envelope'. It's also being slipped in alongside another amendment which'll give the State the power to reduce the pay of sitting judges, which most people will vote yes to...
It's being sold as a way to for the government to conduct an inquiry into the conduct of those at the head of the banks which caused the financial collapse here, leading to the bank guarantee and baillout which set us on the road to ruins.
So, do I want to give the government the power to compel people to come before it, to push their rights aside in the name of 'public interest', and make pronouncements as to their character and conduct?
I want that like I want a hole in my head. Well. Another one besides the usual ones that are supposed to be there. Of course... I've a horrible feeling it'll pass anyway because, well, Irish people are like that, and they're quite likely to vote Yes because nobody's made enough noise to tell them why they should vote No yet. "Ah sure it'll be grand" indeed....
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?
Currently, inquiry's are instead handled through the judiciary, with a tribunal being warranted to prepare a report to be published publicly. Anyone called before a tribunal is entitled to their legal representation and legal rights. They're regarded as a bit toothless, not being able to punish, only to report on what happened, which goes in to shaping government policy. Partly, this is because the constitution never gave the houses of government the power to establish their own inquiry's within themselves. Currently, you can not be required to testify before the Dáil, or the Seanad in this country.
But not for long, because tomorrow, this little amendment to the constitution is going to the vote tomorrow.
Quote:At present, Article 15.10 states:
“Each House shall make its own rules and standing orders, with power to attach penalties for their infringement, and shall have power to ensure freedom of debate, to protect its official documents and the private papers of its members, and to protect itself and its members against any person or persons interfering with, molesting or attempting to corrupt its members in the exercise of their duties.”
It is proposed to renumber this as 15.10.1° and to insert the following subsections:
2° Each House shall have the power to conduct an inquiry, or an inquiry with the other House, in a manner provided for by law, into any matter stated by the House or Houses concerned to be of general public importance.
3° In the course of any such inquiry the conduct of any person (whether or not a member of either House) may be investigated and the House or Houses concerned may make findings in respect of the conduct of that person concerning the matter to which the inquiry relates.
4° It shall be for the House or Houses concerned to determine, with due regard to the principles of fair procedures, the appropriate balance between the rights of persons and the public interest for the purposes of ensuring an effective inquiry into any matter to which subsection 2° applies.
Now. I've highlighted the most worrying section for your convenience. Essentially, what it means is, if the houses is able to determine that the public's interest is important enough, they can throw your legal rights out the door.
The most staggering thing to me is, most people don't realise this. Most people are transfixed by the ongoing 7-ring circus around the Presidential election, which is turning into a farce of terrorist accusations, skeletons in closets, 'assassination attempts', the word 'envelope'. It's also being slipped in alongside another amendment which'll give the State the power to reduce the pay of sitting judges, which most people will vote yes to...
It's being sold as a way to for the government to conduct an inquiry into the conduct of those at the head of the banks which caused the financial collapse here, leading to the bank guarantee and baillout which set us on the road to ruins.
So, do I want to give the government the power to compel people to come before it, to push their rights aside in the name of 'public interest', and make pronouncements as to their character and conduct?
I want that like I want a hole in my head. Well. Another one besides the usual ones that are supposed to be there. Of course... I've a horrible feeling it'll pass anyway because, well, Irish people are like that, and they're quite likely to vote Yes because nobody's made enough noise to tell them why they should vote No yet. "Ah sure it'll be grand" indeed....
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?