Gilmore: Referendum objections show up 'old boy's network'
The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said that the objections by eight former attorneys general to the proposed reforms of Oireachtas investigations and the judges’ pay referendum shows that "there is a bit of an old boy's network" present in the legal profession.
If the judges’ pay referendum is passed, it would allow for their salary to be cut proportionately if and when public servants’ pay is reduced in the public interest.
It would also result in judiciary members becoming subject to the public pensions levy.
The eight former attorneys general who have argued against the referendums include former AIB chairman Dermot Gleeson, barrister Michael McDowell, former EU Commissioner Peter Sutherland, David Byrne, Paul Gallagher, John Rogers, Harold Whelehan and Patrick Connolly.
Mr Gilmore said their argument was unsurprising.
The eight warned that if the proposed amendments to the Constitution are passed, they would weaken both the independence of the judiciary and the rights of individuals.
But Mr Gilmore said: “There’s a bit of an old boy’s network to be honest about what we saw yesterday coming from this particular sector of the legal profession.
“The reality here is the holding of investigations done at a reasonable cost because we can’t get back to the days of the very expensive tribunals.
“To get to the bottom of matters of public interest – that’s what’s involved here. It’s about providing accountability for the public whose hard-earned money contributes to taxes.”
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny earlier shot down claims that the proposed reforms of Oireachtas investigations will result in a kangaroo court.
Mr Kenny and Mr Gilmore again urged people to vote Yes on the separate referendums this Thursday, to beef up power of TDs and senators in public interest investigations and reduce judges’ pay.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties claimed the proposals on parliamentary inquiries would mean a shift in power from the courts to the Oireachtas, resulting in a kangaroo court.
But Mr Kenny dismissed the charge as complete nonsense.
“Matters of public interest are in the public interest,” he said.
“Those who are elected to Dáil Eireann or the Seanad Eireann serve on appropriate committees.
“They have a duty to be accountable to the people and to hold those who are in positions where public interest matters. They should be enabled to have questions answered in the public interest.”
He said the most important part of this referendum was accountability.
“People all over this country have been suffering as a consequence of activities that took place in bank and lending institutions,” he said.
“People deserve to get answers. There’s no question of kangaroo courts being set up here.”
If the referendum on Oireachtas investigations is passed the Dáil and the Seanad will have the power to conduct an inquiry into any matter that either or both consider to be a matter of public importance.
The public will vote on the referendums on Thursday, on the same day as the election of Ireland’s ninth president.
