Independent Media Centre Ireland     http://www.indymedia.ie

22nd Amendment to the Irish (Don't Laugh)'constitution'

category national | miscellaneous | news report author Saturday June 14, 2003 02:43author by Declan Hogge - Axis Of Evilauthor email albatrosspie at hotmail dot com

And other ways to hoodwink people into thinking they live in a democracy

As I was casually perusing the (ahem) constitution of our "nation", I was quite surprised to stumble upon this little nugget.

It amounts to nothing less than a public admission by the cadre of brown envelope juggling fuckfaces that "run" this "country",that the whole thing is a set up,a big fucking giggle for all who are privy to certain info.
I am referring to a proposed amendment by some sensible person that would make the judiciary constitutionally responsible for its actions .In simple terms this means that if they break the law they get punished.Just like the rest of us chumps.
Almost needless to say,when voted on in the oireachteas,it was not carried.
Allow me to repeat in slightly different words.A majority of elected "representatives" decided that it would be a bad idea to have Judges who were responsible for their own actions.
I'd imagine that would probably get in the way of the roaring trade they do in brown envelopes.

"There is no Twenty–second Amendment of the Constitution. The Twenty–second Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2001 [relating to the removal of a judge from office and providing for a body to be established by law to investigate or cause to be investigated conduct constituting misbehaviour by a judge or affected by incapacity of a judge] was not passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas."(!!!!!!)[exclamations mine]

Check out the whole laughable charade at:
http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/upload/publications/297.htm


Comments (2 of 2)

Jump To Comment: 1 2
author by Daithipublication date Sat Jun 14, 2003 02:55author address author phone

I don't think you know what you're talking about. The amendment was proposed by the Fianna Fail government (hardly defenders of democracy!) in the wake of the O'Flaherty troubles etc., at the same time as a number of other amendments (the ICC, death penalty, and the first Nice attempt, if I recall correctly). However the plan was poorly written and failed to get any substantial support from beyond the government; they wanted to go ahead with the other referenda so the Bill never passed through the Dail. Apart from the fact that it shows some short-sightedness in terms of how amendments are numbered, where is this earthshattering discover that has you bursting with exclamation marks? The 'sensible person' that proposed the amendment, had you digged a little deeper, was the Taoiseach. The same person that withdrew it rather rapidly afterwards. So there are plenty of problems with the constitution, many clauses missing and many that shouldn't be there* - shouldn't this be occupying your concerns rather than the dog's dinner that FF made of this proposal? Also, there was never a final vote on the 22nd amendment bill in the Dail, I don't know where you're getting your information on that. Would you care to share your source?

* e.g. the weak protection of freedom of expression should be strengthened, the clauses relating to women in the home shouldn't be there, and many more. Not to mention wholescale judicial reform, not just the weak gap-filler that Ahern proposed in this amendment

author by Declan Hoggepublication date Sun Jun 15, 2003 18:53author address author phone

Sorry about that,looks like I jumped to the wrong conclusion there.Sorry for wasting your time,I hope your life can now get back to "normal".(!!!)



Indymedia Ireland is a media collective. We are independent volunteer citizen journalists producing and distributing the authentic voices of the people. Indymedia Ireland is an open news project where anyone can post their own news, comment, videos or photos about Ireland or related matters.