Sir, – Dr Conor O’Mahony rightly highlights the risk that the proposed Constitutional Convention may not deliver meaningful constitutional reform, particularly if it only addresses the limited issues currently proposed (Opinion Analysis, June 7th).
Amnesty International Ireland welcomes this week’s Cabinet decision to give the go-ahead to the convention. This must be a space to reflect on the values and principles that define who we are and how our country should be run.
However, we at Amnesty International – and others – are concerned that the proposed process does not do that.
Successive governments have failed to translate commitments made on the global stage to protect human rights into meaningful protections for people in Ireland. This Government must take the opportunity presented by the convention to ensure that our Constitution protects economic, social and cultural rights, such as health, housing and income.
A recent Red C Express Poll showed that 78 per cent of people believe that the Constitution should be amended to protect rights, such as the right to housing and access to healthcare for all those living in Ireland. The poll also found overwhelming support for the convention to examine how to do this.
Dr O’Mahony highlights the fact that major constitutional change often takes place in times of great crisis. Surely at a time when there is a crisis of confidence in our political and economic systems, we should be looking at ways to ensure our Constitution protects our human rights.
If the Government is serious about achieving its commitment that “by the end of our term in government, Ireland will be recognised as a modern, fair, socially inclusive and equal society”, it must establish a Constitutional Convention that reflects this spirit. – Yours, etc,