Listen to past attorney generals

THE warnings given by eight of our previous attorney generals that the referendum on inquiries by the Oireachtas would possibly give unlimited powers to the Oireachtas on any matter of public importance should be heeded.

It may indeed be an appalling vista that our elected representatives are allowed haul in to the Houses whosoever they wish to grill on matters that in their view are matters of such public interest. After all, we have seen many occasions in our recent past of our politicians running with the hare and hunting with the hounds.

That said, it is at least an equally appalling vista in tribunals to see findings in grave matters of public interest stalled to such an extent that when, after many years, the findings are reported, the consequences for the wrongdoers can be minimised, or amount to nothing where they have since died.

Commissions of Inquiry legislation may have shortened the time scale and costs, but is it enough?

The choice seems to be which vista we wish to look upon from now on.

We trust our public representatives to do their best in running our government and to bring in whatever legislation is seen as necessary for our public good. As long as we vote in competent, moral and patriotic souls, we’d hope they’d continue to pursue such public good on our behalf. Should we not just place our trust in them now?

We would have to be very unfortunate, indeed, to vote in a sufficient number of incompetent, immoral and unpatriotic souls, before inquiries by the Oireachtas may be used against the public interest or to our country’s ruin.

Now when have we ever before voted in such a group?

Frank Hannon

Solicitor

Shandon Street

Cork