Constitution and social rights

Sir, – Harry McGee reports that only two of the 18 recommendations of the Convention on the Constitution are to be put to referendum ("Only two proposals for Constitution referendum", January 26th).

The Government’s delay in responding to the final recommendations of the convention is regrettable. February 23rd will mark a year since 85 per cent of the convention voted in favour of enhanced protection of economic, social and cultural rights in Bunreacht na hÉireann.

Amnesty International has called on the Government to, at the very least, accept this recommendation in principle and, if deemed necessary, set up a working group for further consideration. Like the Convention on the Constitution, any such working group should be open to external expertise.

It should also have clear and public terms of reference and an expeditious and defined timeframe for reporting.

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A Constitution that protects economic, social and cultural rights (such as the right to health, housing and education) would provide decision-makers and politicians with an objective, legally sound framework with which to make better, evidence-based decisions. It would also ensure a crucial linkage between economic and social policy.

Recourse to the courts would be a matter of last resort. International experience shows that courts tend to only intervene when an individual’s rights have been unjustifiably and significantly interfered with – not an easy threshold to meet.

Next year Ireland will mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising. This gives us the opportunity to look back, but also to consider our present and shape our future. In doing so we might remember the vision that underpinned our Republic. Constitutional protection of economic, social and cultural rights is consistent with such a vision of an Ireland built upon the principles of equality, human rights and social solidarity. It is also, in our view, a critical reform that will help to ensure that our return to economic growth secures a society which betters serves all of its people. – Yours, etc,

COLM O’GORMAN,

Amnesty International

Ireland,

Sean MacBride House,

48 Fleet Street, Dublin 2.