IMC Eire Exclusive - Constitutional Referendum Change Working Group being set up

Friday April 11, 2003 00:31

by IMC investigative reporter - IMC Ireland

Hot off the press

A normally reliable source has informed me that a working group of a couple of left-wing Labour TDs, a Green Councillor and a couple of independents is currently being set up.

The aim of the working group is to put together a new constitutional referendum that would put to the people a choice on the issue of neutrality.

The wording is obviously a long way off, but the general idea is that it would read something like "Ireland will not engage in any military activities, or provide use of its military facilites to foreign militaries, unless the soverign borders of the nation are explicitly threatened by another."

Sinn Fein have yet to be consulted but there may be issues with the British Army being in the North, the 26 counties vs. 32 etc.

The working group is expected to examine the Swiss model of neutrality. Other legal stumbling blocks to the referendum going ahead are Ireland's partiticpation in the rapid reaction force, and also our acceptance of the second Nice Treaty last year.

With the war in Iraq supposedly winding down, the working group aims to get the referendum details sorted out quickly so the people can decide whether we are truly neutral or not.

No word about whether Fine Gael are going to be asked for support or not yet.

My source also said that the working group plans to work with people from the PANA, and also IAWM for advice. Christ. Maybe they'll get SWP'ers to shout advice to voters queueing at the poll booths over megaphones.

So there you go. You heard it here first. And now I should really go to bed.