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Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 May 1999

Vol. 159 No. 8

Ráiteas faoi Eolas do Vótálaithe: Tairiscint. Statement for the Information of Voters: Motion.

Tairgim:

Go ndéanfar an ráiteas atá leagtha amach sa Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Rún seo a fhorordú mar eolas do vótálaithe de bhun alt 23 d'Acht an Reifrinn, 1994 (Uimh. 12 de 1994), i ndáil leis an togra chun an Bunreacht a leasú atá ar áireamh sa Bhille um an bhFichiú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Uimh. 2), 1999, agus is ábhar do reifreann bunreachta.

An Sceideal

1.Is é atá beartaithe leis an mBille um an bhFichiú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Uimh. 2), 1999, an tAirteagal seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh Airteagal 28 den Bhunreacht:

‘RIALTAS ÁITIÚIL

Airteagal 28A

1.Admhaíonn an Stát an ról atá ag rialtas áitiúil maidir le fóram a chur ar fáil le haghaidh ionadaíochta daonlathaí do phobail áitiúla, maidir le cumhachtaí agus feidhmeanna a bheirtear le dlí a oibriú agus a chomhlíonadh ag leibhéal áitiúil agus maidir le leasanna na bpobal sin a chur chun cinn trína thionscnaimh.

2.Beidh cibé údaráis áitiúla dhírthofa ann a chinnfear le dlí agus déanfar a gcumhachtaí agus a bhfeidhmeanna a chinneadh amhlaidh, faoi chuimsiú fhorálacha an Bhunreachta seo, agus oibreofar agus comhlíonfar iad de réir dlí.

3.Ní foláir toghcháin do chomhaltaí de na húdaráis áitiúla sin a dhéanamh de réir dlí tráth nach déanaí ná deireadh an cúigiú bliain tar éis na bliana ina ndearnadh go deireanach iad.

4.Gach saoránach ag a bhfuil ceart vótála i dtoghchán comhaltaí do Dháil Éireann agus cibé daoine eile a chinnfear le dlí, beidh ceart vótála acu i dtoghchán comhaltaí cibé údaráis áitiúla dá dtagraítear in alt 2 den Airteagal seo a chinnfear le dlí.

5.Déanfar corrfholúntais i gcomhaltas údarás áitiúil dá dtagraítear in alt 2 den Airteagal seo a líonadh de réir dlí.'.

2.MÁ THOILÍONN TÚ leis an togra, cuir X os coinne an fhocail TÁ ar an bpáipéar ballóide.

3.MURA dTOILÍONN TÚ leis an togra, cuir X os coinne an fhocail NÍL ar an bpáipéar ballóide

4.Is féidir cóip den Bhille a iniúchadh nó a fháil saor in aisce in aon Phost–

I move:

That the statement set out in the Schedule to this Resolution be prescribed for the information of voters pursuant to section 23 of the Referendum Act, 1994 (No. 12 of 1994), in relation to the proposal to amend the Constitution which is contained in the Twentieth Amendment of the Constitution (No. 2) Bill, 1999, and is the subject of a constitutional referendum.

Schedule

1.The Twentieth Amendment of the Constitution (No. 2) Bill, 1999, proposes to insert the following Article after Article 28 of the Constitution:

‘LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Article 28A

1.The State recognises the role of local government in providing a forum for the democratic representation of local communities, in exercising and performing at local level powers and functions conferred by law and in promoting by its initiatives the interests of such communities.

2.There shall be such directly elected local authorities as may be determined by law and their powers and functions shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, be so determined and shall be exercised and performed in accordance with law.

3.Elections for members of such local authorities shall be held in accordance with law not later than the end of the fifth year after the year in which they were last held.

4.Every citizen who has the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil Éireann and such other persons as may be determined by law shall have the right to vote at an election for members of such of the local authorities referred to in section 2 of this Article as shall be determined by law.

5.Casual vacancies in the membership of local authorities referred to in section 2 of this Article shall be filled in accordance with law.'.

2.IF YOU APPROVE of the proposal, mark X opposite the word YES on the ballot paper.

3.IF YOU DO NOT APPROVE of the proposal, mark X opposite the word NO on the ballot paper.

4.A copy of the Bill can be inspected or obtained free of charge at any Post Office.

I thank Senators for their contributions. It was a most constructive debate and Senator Cregan was particularly kind to me. He is not always that way in Cork but I take note of his comments. I hope that local government will benefit as a result of the debate.

I thank the Minister of State for his detailed explanation of the Bill and his courtesy. I compliment him on a job well done.

I congratulate the Minister of State. It is the first time we have faced each other in this Chamber. We have been in many other fora together where we have argued about different issues, but we have regard for each other. I compliment and congratulate him on his ministerial achievements. I am aware of his involvement and the proof is in the developments around the country. The Minister of State is most committed and he is the right person for the job because he is interested in the area. I wish him well and congratulate him on the Bill. This provision is the first in a series of measures including the regulations regarding the new local structures which will come before us in the autumn. It is on those proposals that the bullfight will take place.

Cuireadh agus aontíodh an cheist.

Question put and agreed to.
Sitting suspended at 5.25 p.m. and resumed at 6 p.m.
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