TDs ALONE SHOULD DECIDE DEFENCE POLICY
John Bruton
![John Bruton]()
John Bruton
Non Executive Director at Ingersoll Rand, Irish Diaspora Loan Origination Fund and CEPS
I really do not think defence policy choices should be put before a citizens assembly, whose conclusions would?acquire an artificial authority that would inevitably hamstring the Dail.
We are representative parliamentary democracy so public reps ie TDs and Senators, should take the lead....no body else, neither "experts" nor randomly chosen citizens. TDs are accountable at election time in a way that others are not. They should not delegate their responsibilities.
I think Dail approval for an overseas mission should suffice, no need to involve either the UN or the European Council.
Sales Director at Credit Management Outsource Solutions (CMOS)
1 年The term "hamstring the Dail" is particularly prescient. There is only one legitimate Citizens' Assembly, it is called Dail Eireann. The conclusion of these opaque citizens' assemblies on major policy areas are being given disproportionate publicity and importance. They only serve to undermine and marginalise the democratically-mandated policy-making process. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that Government is setting them up in the hope that they will generate momentum for policies which the Government wishes to pursue regardless of the views Oireachtas Eireann or other stakeholders.
Law and Policy Expert
1 年Agree totally. Also, I’m not convinced the citizens are getting the best advice and information possible currently and moreover, this is not a matter for parish pump politics.
Advisory Counsel
1 年This current forum would be in line with that principle. While open to public participation, the sessions will not have votes of attendees. I'd liken it to the National Forum on Europe after the defeat of Nice I, and similar forums here and elsewhere around the EU Constitution/Lisbon process,
Director of Cloud Infrastructure Ireland at Ibec
1 年Great point John Bruton. The Houses of the Oireachtas is our bicameral parliament and decisions of this gravity should be decided there and not in any other forum.