Kenny’s failure to debate rankles
One of the eye-catching elements of the rebalancing of power will include allowing members of the public, experts, and civil society voice their opinions at pre-legislative stage before laws are drafted. An easing of the party whip system and less use of the guillotine are also “envisaged”.
Yet, despite these visions of a more open government and more open debate, the Taoiseach himself has ducked out of appearing on tonight’s live one-hour Prime Time debate with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.
Yet Fine Gael’s political strategy in relation to the Montrose debate is a bit of a “no-brainer” from their point of view. Jobs Minister Richard Bruton, who was sent out to bat, has run an impressive campaign and the yes side is miles ahead, so there is little point at this stage in risking a mauling by Micheál Martin.
With the latest opinion poll showing 44% in favour and 27% against, the last thing Fine Gael needs is the 21% of the “don’t knows” running across the divide after some alarming TV gaffe by Mr Kenny. So, in the most significant referendum to the Constitution in the history of the State, involving 40 references coming out of the Constitution and ziltch going back in, the public are left with occasional 30-second sound-bytes from Mr Kenny.
The public has been promised if the Seanad is abolished more open Government will follow but most of the proposed Dáil reforms are based on trust.
Trust that this government and, more importantly, future governments will relax the use of the guillotine and party whip system and allow more open debate; trust that they won’t ignore valuable contributions from the public or experts in the drafting of laws; trust that any future government with a large Dáil majority won’t abuse the system and sack judges by using a simple two thirds majority in one House; trust that an almost impossible 4/5ths majority in the Dáil will be secured to impeach a future president whose behaviour may be completely out of line.
Reform is not an option in Friday’s referendum.
The anticipated yes vote will have real consequences for this Republic and all of the future implications may not be apparent. That is why a head-to-head with both leaders after tonight’s Nine O’Clock News would have given voters plenty to consider before casting their ballot.
However, as the radio ad claims, when these 60 senators are gone, they’re gone, and when one half of the Houses of the Oireachtas is gone ... it’s definitely gone.
