Fine Gael Propose a Constitution Day and a "New Republic"

[Cato]

They should also include an amendment to remove the crime of blasphemy from the constitution and another to secularize the oaths contained in the constitution.

One to remove the 'religious' preamble would also be welcome...

[LDF]

De Valera refained from declaring a Republic until the national issue was settled.Blueshirts engaged in cheap stunts to curry favour,much like now.Pity the actions only managed to further alienate sections of Irish society. The republic as declared by the blueshirts is in direct contradiction to the proclaimation this 26 county state claims to owe allegiance to.In their progroms of reform perhaps they might engage in rectifying that

Oh, and your party's acceptance of the Good Friday Agreement which recognises partition (you mightn't like it but you recognise it) is an example of what - slow learning?

Anyway, that's not the point of this thread - not everything revolves around the North.

[Cato]

They should also include an amendment to remove the crime of blasphemy from the constitution and another to secularize the oaths contained in the constitution.

One to remove the 'religious' preamble would also be welcome...

[LDF]

Already a thread on this.

http://www.politics.ie/oireachtas/12...-republic.html

Sorry Baron - didn't see it.

[ctr]

No mention of the necessary referendum to remove the Blasphemy provision?

edit:- Cato beat me to it lol

[Congalltee]

Fine Gael Reform. That sounds like a good idea.
They can start with banning all corporate donations and large personal contributions.
They can provide for all public appointments to be vetted.
They can increase the size of constituencies and reduce the numbers of TDs.
They could implement the mcCarthy report.
Reverse de-centralisation.
Revoke nama.
Tax wealth.
End social welfare traps.
Abolish tax shelters.
Have half the parliament elected by list system.

That would be reform. Cutting the Presidential term by two years is bull.

[Sync]

Abolition of the Seanad
Still don't like this. You're removing an oversight body for no defined benefit other than reducing the bill a little bit.

List system for 15 TDs
Uch. In theory I'm not against this. I like the US system where the President picks the people they believe are best to be in key departments. I look at Mandelson in the UK who (regardless of his personal character) is genuinely doing a very good job in his role. And then I remember that had we had this system in Ireland 7 years ago, we'd probably have Maurice Ahern TD right now. There is no historical way of looking at Irish history and not thinking this would turn into cronyism.

Constitutional recognition of 4 Dail committees
I can see the point of this and it's a good idea. Committees should be able to summon people and have them testify under oath, similar to how the Americans are able to hold senate enquiries. They're saying "new Banking and Financial Regulation Committee; a new Budget Committee and European Legislation Committee", but quite frankly you also need a Dail Oversight Committee with wide ranging powers.

Reduction of presidents term
God why. Who could possibly care about this? What benefit will it bring?

Public petition of the Dail
Meh. Would need to be a pretty high number and have more impact than "The politicians should have to talk about it", otherwise it's a waste of time. A recall system if 30% of the voters in a constituency might be interesting. Probably unworkable here though.

Allow for reduction of judges pay
I'm fine with something that states their current pay can only be linked to inflation from now on. I'm not fine with politicians being able to regularly vote on their pay grade.


Just saying but if the biggest news story of the last year had been Health scandals rather than banking problems, they'd be proposing a Health committee rather than financial. If we were in a boom they wouldn't be suggesting the closure of the Seanead. There's a good bit of pandering in this, but in general it's pretty interesting, and more radical than I think most of us expected from someone of Kenny's limits.

[pjoz]

Oh, and your party's acceptance of the Good Friday Agreement which recognises partition (you mightn't like it but you recognise it) is an example of what - slow learning?

Anyway, that's not the point of this thread - not everything revolves around the North.

Very good.The old 2 wrongs make a right argument.The difference being SF and GFA engagement is right and proper,FG in declaring a 26 County republic was improper and not something somebody should boast about.SF are engaged in bringing about a better society for all Irish citizens,I wouldnt expect those with vested interests and engaged in divide and conquer techniques for the purposes of feathering their own nests to agree with that however

[LDF]

Very good.The old 2 wrongs make a right argument.The difference being SF and GFA engagement is right and proper,FG in declaring a 26 County republic was improper and not something somebody should boast about.SF are engaged in bringing about a better society for all Irish citizens,I wouldnt expect those with vested interests and engaged in divide and conquer techniques for the purposes of feathering their own nests to agree with that however

Wow, because SF say it is right that means it is right and until SF say it is right it must be wrong. Jesus, those who say SF more resemble a cult than a political party would be proved right by the tripe you've just written.

Do you still believe that the 26 county republic is "improper"? If so, this is not the thread for you.

[Drico]

Very good.The old 2 wrongs make a right argument.The difference being SF and GFA engagement is right and proper,FG in declaring a 26 County republic was improper and not something somebody should boast about.SF are engaged in bringing about a better society for all Irish citizens,I wouldnt expect those with vested interests and engaged in divide and conquer techniques for the purposes of feathering their own nests to agree with that however

As a nationalist I am proud of the Irish Republic and I think that FG should be a lot prouder about proclaiming the Republic. Your derision of the Irish Republic (as seems typical with self proclaimed "republicans") is most unpatriotic.