asked the Taoiseach if any of the recommendations made by the Committee set up to examine the Constitution remain to be acted upon; and the Government's intentions in regard to such recommendations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Constitution Committee Recommendations.
1.
The position in general is still as set out in the reply given by me in this House to a similar question addressed to me on the 8th February, 1968.
Are we to take it that the Taoiseach still intends to do nothing about the report, that he intends to ignore it, as the Government have done so far?
As I indicated before, this was the report of a committee of all parties in the House and each party have their own obligations to examine and to adopt the recommendations to whatever extent they can, but there is no obligation on the Government to implement any part of the recommendations in the report.
Will the Taoiseach state whether he intends to initiate any constitutional amendments during the year?
The Deputy has a question on the Order Paper on some day next week?
I will withdraw my question next week.
I do not know whether the answer I can give will be satisfactory to the Deputy but he will be aware that constitutional changes may be necessary in the event of our accession to the European Economic Community. The changes that will be necessary are being examined and will naturally be brought before the House in due time. At this stage I do not envisage any other constitutional changes in this year.
Am I to take it from that reply that the Taoiseach has had second thoughts about certain important constitutional changes which he indicated might be desirable?
I indicated that certain constitutional changes would be desirable especially in the context of the reunification of the country. I have not certainly abandoned any ideas I have had about that but I think the timing of the changes will have to be appropriate to the advance of our reunification ideals.
Would the Taoiseach agree that his statements on these changes, especially on Article 44 (1), were made to enhance the liberal image of the Taoiseach and that he has no serious intention whatever of making these changes?
I have no desire to enhance my own image but I do not deny that I wish to enhance the image of my Government and my party. As far as Article 44 is concerned, the views I expressed were sincerely held and were shared by very many citizens of this country.
Then do something about them.
The Taoiseach referred to the responsibility of each party. May we now take it that Fianna Fáil have examined the recommendations and have decided to take no action, this year at least?
It is not likely that action will be taken this year as far as the constitutional changes are concerned, but that is not certain. It will depend on our approach to the reunification ideals.
Question No. 2.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach one further question. If the Constitution is defective in a way that is damaging to the reunification of this country, surely it becomes urgent to correct this?
I will not argue about the urgency. That is a matter of opinion. If changes are necessary they should be made in the context of something worth while being done and achieved. Changes now may not achieve anything and it is important that we should time the changes to the prospect of some achievement.
Is the Taoiseach in a position to tell us the cost of this report and will he agree that by virtue of the fact that his Government have ignored the report the matter was a useless exercise?
I cannot give the cost now but if the Deputy likes to put down a question I will try to have the information for him. It is not true to say that we have entirely ignored the report. There are matters which may be worth considering.
Would the Taoiseach care to explain that?
I cannot elaborate on it now.