Donnelly wide of the mark on referendum claims
Issued : Thursday 20 October, 2011
Statement by Michael McNamara TD
Claims today by Wicklow TD Stephen Donnelly that the forthcoming referendum on Oireachtas inquiries will give politicians sweeping powers to investigate anyone for anything, and to make findings against them, is blatant scaremongering.
Deputy Donnelly's claims are sensationalist and are well wide of the mark. In fact, the power to be conferred by this referendum is to inquire and report - that is all. No politician will have any power to punish, fine or discipline any individual. This referendum simply allows the Oireachtas, our national parliament, to inquire into matters of public importance and to report their findings.
Just about every other parliament in Europe, and indeed throughout the developed world has this sort of power and I believe that it should become an essential part of the parliamentary process here too.
Perhaps Deputy Donnelly is happy with the status quo where the Oireachtas has no authority to inquire into for example, the causes of the banking crisis that has brought this country to its knees, but I certainly am not.
I am particularly puzzled at his call for yet another referendum in the new year - at a cost of some €20m or so. I can certainly think of better ways of spending that money.
