Dozens of Civil Society Groups Protest Exclusion from Constitutional Convention

Press release for immediate release

Tuesday 10 July 2012

Over 60 organisations large and small from the length and breadth of Ireland have today (Tuesday 10 July 2012) added their names to a civil society charter protesting their exclusion, and the exclusion of the ordinary citizens they represent, from the Government’s planned Constitutional Convention.

The Government’s Resolution on the Constitutional Convention is due to be rushed through the Dáil and Seanad tonight from 5pm, just before the summer holidays. Debate on the resolution will be subject to a strict two hour guillotine.

Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), Mr Mark Kelly, said:

“To date, the Government has steadfastly refused to engage with anyone outside the Oireachtas, either on the process of establishing the convention or on the issues to be discussed. By its own admission it has consulted only with members of the Opposition who have repeatedly called for wider and more inclusive consultation.”

“The express exclusion of civil society from the Constitutional Convention is simply not good enough. The wide range of signatories to today’s Charter is a measure of the real anger and disappointment felt across Ireland at the Government’s failure to deliver on what it promised before the election – a credible, accessible and effective forum for Constitutional reform”

ENDS.

For further information, please contact:

Walter Jayawardene

Communications Manager

Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL)

9-13 Blackhall Place

Dublin 7

Ireland 

Tel. + 353 1 799 4503

Mob: +353 87 9981574   

Fax. + 353 1 799 4512

E-mail  walter.jayawardene@iccl.ie

Web     www.iccl.ie

NOTE TO EDITOR

• The Government’s Resolution on the Constitutional Convention is slated for a two hour guillotined debate in the Dail from 5pm tonight (Tuesday, 10 July 2012).

• The text of the Civil Society Charter for a Constitutional Convention, and the list of current signatories, can be viewed HERE.

• The ICCL’s paper Developing a Model for Best Practice for Public Participation in Constitutional Reform, which examines the Government’s proposals for the Constitutional Convention in light of international best practice, is available HERE.