COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, January 14, 2013

MOTION NO. 4

MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

That South Dublin County Council requests that the County Manager write to An Taoiseach expressing support in general for the work of the recently convened Government Constitutional Working Group and welcomes the Taoiseach’s commitment to put a number of questions by way of a referendum to the Irish People later this year, and given that this is the European Year of the Citizen,  this Council requests that An Taoiseach provide the lead for other EU Countries and include, the following (or similar) amendment(s) to the relevant article(s) of the Constitution::

 Following each general election the Taoiseach and Cabinet selected by the elected members of the Dail will, within five weeks of being elected-

A)   Prepare a Five Year Plan to be called The Programme for Government, or “Programme” and after it has been ratified by the Dail will be put to the people by way of a preferendum in accordance with procedures.

B)  The Government will act in a caretaker capacity until the result of the preferendem is confirmed

C)  On acceptance of the “Programme” by a minimum of three-fifths of those eligible and voting on the preferendum the Government is considered confirmed by the electorate and it implaments the “Programme”

D)   If the “Programme” is rejected there shall be a general election, if elements of the programme, not exceeding 30% of the total, are rejected by the people the Government shall revise those elements and put them back out for a further preferendum at which point a simple majority in favour will suffice 

E)   When the “Programme” is accepted by the people, the Government shall faithfully implement it and should it find that any part of the “Programme” is impossible to implement, it shall prepare an alternative strategy and place if before the people for ratification where a simple majority will suffice.

F)  Where the Government deviates from the “programme”  the President, having consulted the Council of State, shall either (a) direct An Taoiseach to rectify the situation within 21 days, or, (b) dissolve the Dail and a general election shall follow.

G)  Where the Government, on reaching the mid-term of its mandate, calculates that it cannot achieve 90% of the agreed “Programme”, shall carry out a review and put an amended “Programme”, once approved by the Dail, to a preferendum where a simple majority in favour will suffice.  If the revised “Programme” is rejected by the people a general election shall take place.

If the motion is passed, the Manager is requested to copy it to all City and County Councils and to the Constitutional Working Group.

REPORT:

Should the motion be passed a letter will be issued to An Taoiseach expressing support in general for the work of the Government Constitutional Working Group and outlining the proposed amendments to the constitution as contained in the motion.  This letter will also be circulated to all City and County Councils and to the Constitutional Working Group.