Ivana Bacik (Independent)

It recommended a referendum in January on this issue and sought submissions from the public exactly 12 months ago, on 21 October 2010.

It is also extraordinary that eminent lawyers, including former Attorneys General, are claiming that the referendum will rule out recourse to the courts for anyone who believes his or her constitutional rights has been breached by an Oireachtas committee. That is not the case and anyone who has a doubt about it should read Professor Gwynn Morgan's excellent article in the Irish Times today, which points out clearly that other articles of the Constitution preserve the jurisdiction of the High Court to judicially review any decision or procedures of Oireachtas committees.