Sir, – We welcome the news that the Taoiseach will “brief Opposition leaders on the structure of the constitutional convention because it was important that it would work properly” (Home News, December 28th). However, we suggest that, as important as it is to consult with the Opposition, Enda Kenny will be speaking to the wrong people.
Since last March a vague half page in the programme for government is all the information that is available to ordinary citizens regarding the convention. A national discussion on the role, structure and membership of the constitutional convention, should begin immediately to ensure that citizens are fully engaged in the important process of reform and the proposals for changes to the Constitution that may come out of it.
Article 46.2 of the Constitution ensures that any constitutional amendments that might be proposed by the constitutional convention must be passed by the Oireachtas before they may be put to a referendum. In practice this means that Cabinet will have a veto on any proposals made by the convention. – Yours, etc,