Seanad debates

Thursday, 24 March 2005

Establishment of Joint Committee on the Constitution: Motion.

 

11:00 am

Photo of Mary O'RourkeMary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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Molaim an rún:

"D'ainneoin aon ní sna Buan-Orduithe, de bhrí go bhfuil Coiste Uile-Pháirtí an Oireachtais ar an mBunreacht ag gabháil d'athbhreithniú iomlán ar an mBunreacht ar bhonn Uile-Pháirtíó bunaíodh é i mí Iúil 1996 agus ó athbhunaíodh é i mí Dheireadh Fómhair 1997 agus arís i mí na Nollag 2002 agus na téarmaí tagartha seo a leanas aige:

'D'fhonn díriú ar ionad agus ar ábharthacht an Bhunreachta agus d'fhonn a chinneadh cad iad na réimsí ina bhféadfaidh sé a bheith inmhianaithe nó riachtanach athrú a dhéanamh ar an mBunreacht, déanfaidh an Coiste Uile-Pháirtí ant-athbhreithniú iomlán ar an mBunreacht a chríochnú, ar athbhreithniúé ar ar thosaigh an dá choiste roimhe seo. Le linn dó a bheith i mbun an athbhreithnithe sin, beidh aird ag an gCoiste Uile-Pháirtí ar na nithe seo a leanas:

(a) Tuarascáil an Ghrúpa Athbhreithnithe ar an mBunreacht;

(b) nach ngabhfadh aon oibleagáid le rannpháirtíocht sa Choiste Uile-Pháirtí maidir le tacú le haon mholtaí a dhéanfaí, fiú amháin dá ndéanfaí d'aon ghuth iad;

(c) nach measfaí comhaltaí an Choiste Uile-Pháirtí, mar dhaoine aonair ná mar ionadaithe Páirtí, a bheith faoi cheangal ar aon slíó thaobh tacú le moltaí den sórt sin;

(d) go gcoimeádfaidh comhaltaí an Choiste Uile-Pháirtí a dTreoraithe Páirtí faoi seach ar an eolas ó am go ham faoi dhul chun cinn obair an Choiste; agus

(e) nach mbeadh cosc ar aon cheann de na páirtithe, sa Rialtas ná sa Fhreasúra, plé le hábhair atá laistigh de théarmaí tagartha an Choiste Uile-Pháirtí le linn dó a bheith ina shuí.',

féadfaidh Coiste Uilepháirtí an Oireachtais ar an mBunreacht suí mar Chomhchoiste de dhá Theach an Oireachtais agus chun na críche sin:

(1) Déanfar Roghchoiste, ar a mbeidh na comhaltaí de Dháil Éireann atá leagtha amach sa Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Rún seo, a cheapadh a bheidh le comhcheangal le Roghchoiste a cheapfaidh Seanad Éireann chun bheith ina Chomhchoiste ar an mBunreacht chun ábhair a bhreithniú a chuimsítear leis an réamhrá a ghabhann leis an Rún seo agus, go háirithe, saincheisteanna a bhaineann le cearta maoine, sa tslí chéanna, de réir mar a roghnóidh sé agus is cuí leis agus tabharfaidh sé tuarascáil orthu sin do dhá Theach an Oireachtais.

(2) 3 is córam don Chomhchoiste, agus comhalta de Dháil Éireann a bheidh i nduine amháin díobh ar a laghad agus comhalta de Sheanad Éireann a bheidh i nduine amháin díobh ar a laghad.

(3) Beidh ag an gComhchoiste na cumhachtaí a mhínítear i mBuan-Ordú 81(1), (2), (3), (4) agus (8).

(4) Is é an Teachta Donnacadha Ó Donnabháin Cathaoirleach an Chomhchoiste agus is é an Seanadóir Micheál Ó Finnúcáin Leas-Chathaoirleach an Chomhchoiste.

(5) Scoirfidh an Rún seo d'éifeacht a bheith leis an 20 Bealtaine, 2005.

AN SCEIDEAL

Na Seanadóirí:——

Brendán Ó Dálaigh

Seán Dardis

Micheál Ó Finnúcáin

Áine Ní Urmhumhain

Joanna Tuffy

I move:

That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, whereas the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution has been involved in a full review of the Constitution on an All-Party basis since its establishment in July 1996, re-establishment in October 1997 and again in December 2002 with the following terms of reference:

'In order to provide focus to the place and relevance of the Constitution and to establish those areas where Constitutional change may be desirable or necessary, the All-Party Committee will complete the full review of the Constitution begun by the two previous committees. In undertaking this review, the All-Party Committee will have regard to the following:

(a) the Report of the Constitution Review Group;

(b) participation in the All-Party Committee would involve no obligation to support any recommendations which might be made, even if made unanimously;

(c) members of the All-Party Committee, either as individuals or as Party Representatives, would not be regarded as committed in any way to support such recommendation;

(d) members of the All-Party Committee shall keep their respective Party Leaders informed from time to time of the progress of the Committee's work; and

(e) none of the parties, in Government or Opposition, would be precluded from dealing with matters within the All-Party Committee's terms of reference while it is sitting.'.

the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution may sit as a Joint Committee of both Houses of the Oireachtas and for this purpose:

(1) a Select Committee, consisting of the members of Seanad Éireann set out in the Schedule to this Resolution be appointed to be joined with a Select Committee of Dáil Éireann to form the Joint Committee on the Constitution to consider matters comprehended by the preamble to this resolution and, in particular, issues relating to family rights, in like manner, as it may select and see fit and shall report thereon to both Houses of the Oireachtas.

(2) The quorum of the Joint Committee shall be 3, of whom at least 1 shall be a member of Dáil Éireann and 1 a member of Seanad Éireann.

(3) The Joint Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Order 65 (1), (2), (3), (4) and (8).

(4) The Chairman of the Joint Committee shall be Deputy Denis O'Donovan, and the vice-Chairman of the Joint Committee shall be Senator Michael Finucane.

(5) This Resolution shall cease to have effect on 20th May, 2005.

SCHEDULE

Senators:—

Brendan Daly

John Dardis

Michael Finucane

Ann Ormonde

Joanna Tuffy."

Photo of Joe O'TooleJoe O'Toole (Independent)
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Before we agree the motion, this is an all-party constitutional group which does not include Independents who now constitute one tenth of the Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. I will no longer accept anything relating to the so-called all-party constitutional committee. It is questionable to say it reflects our views. I do not want to hold up the business of the House, but if it is a constitutional committee it should reflect all groups as well as all parties in both Houses.

Photo of Mary O'RourkeMary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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I will convey that to the proper authorities.

Cuireadh agus aontaíodh an cheist.

Question put and agreed to.