Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Tairgim leasú a 10:

I gCuid 1, leathanach 13, líne 9, “ceithre dhuine dhéag” a scriosadh agus “deichniúr” a chur ina ionad.

agus

I gCuid 2, leathanach 31, líne 44, “fourteen” a scriosadh agus “ten” a chur ina ionad.

I move amendment No. 10:

In Part 1, page 12, line 10, to delete “ceithre dhuine dhéag” and substitute “deichniúr”.

and

In Part 2, page 30, line 47, to delete “fourteen” and substitute “ten”

This amendment deals with nominations for President. The all-party Joint Committee on the Constitution recommended in its final report that the number of Deputies required to nominate a candidate in presidential elections should be reduced from 14 to ten. Ten Deputies would be the equivalent of 100,000 first preference votes, which is a high bar in itself. We have an opportunity with this referendum to make the change it recommended.

When our Constitution was first framed, the citizen was at its heart. The decade of the 1930s was a very different backdrop to the drafting of the Constitution than the present context. Rights had been restricted in some countries, Germany being the most obvious example, and the Constitution represented a visionary and enlightened approach to protecting rights. I do not think people realise the extent of the changes proposed to be made on foot of the abolition of the Seanad. While there are flaws in the Constitution, I value the fact that it is written down.

In changing the number of nominating Deputies we have an opportunity to enhance citizens' choices in presidential elections. A candidate can secure a nomination with the backing of four councils but, as we saw in the previous election, there can be considerable political interference in the form of instructions from head offices to various councillors to the effect that they should not support certain candidates. It is reasonable to reduce the number from 14 to ten given that it has been recommended by the all-party committee and I commend the amendment to the House.

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