 |
| Gearoid Fitzgibbon |
By Gearoid Fitzgibbon
Given the scale of the economic crisis in
Ireland, it is no surprise that political reform was one of the key issues in
the 2011 General Election. There was a sense that the “operating system” of
Ireland, our constitution, needed to be upgraded.
Our democracy needed an upgrade and all
parties came up with proposals including Fine Gael and Labour. Nine pages of the 64-page ‘Programme for
Government’ were on the topic of political reform.
Along with a number of specific referendums,
the Programme promised to establish a Constitutional Convention.
The government has recently begun to sketch the outlines of this convention. It will, we are told, consist of 100 members, 33 elected politicians, and the rest citizens.
The government has recently begun to sketch the outlines of this convention. It will, we are told, consist of 100 members, 33 elected politicians, and the rest citizens.
It has yet to be decided how these citizens
will be selected and the precise agenda for the Convention. With the right
focus, such a convention has the potential to begin a radical transformation of
politics. It’s time for Ireland Version 2.0 and upgrading our country’s
Operating System will need the advocacy and input of people.
Draft Government proposals say that the
Constitutional Convention should report within 12 months on:
·
Our Dáil electoral system.
·
Reducing the presidential
term from seven to five years.
·
Amending the clause on
women in the home and encouraging more participation by women in public life.
·
Removing blasphemy from
the Constitution
·
A reduction of the voting
age.
Other constitutional amendments can also be
considered.
Though the LCDP, community workers can play a
role in assisting citizens groups feed into this process through
awareness-raising events on the constitutional convention or by other means.
Such work comes under LCDP Goal 4 which aims to get people in communities more
involved in decision-making.
To read pages 17-26 online of the ‘Programme
for Government’ look up: bit.ly/fglpfg2011. And, by the way, the Irish
constitution is also now available online and even as an app for smart-phones.
- Gearoid
Fitzgibbon is a community worker with North Tipperary Leader Partnership. Gearóid is
chairperson of Changing Ireland Community Media Ltd.
A commendable article. However it would seem that the electorate in Tipperary will need to exercise a more educated choice when they are choosing a candidate to represent them ! We have had enough corruption in politics and we do not want 'more of the same' . And it is because of the parish pump stuff and the cronyism that this country has been brought to it's knees and will remain on it's knees unless there is radical reform.
ReplyDelete