Constitutional amendment proposals
Browne asked about a commission on constitutional changes and divorce; the Taoiseach cited earlier committees and said there were no current plans for a new commission or divorce legislation.
asked the Taoiseach if he will establish a commission to consider the ways in which the laws or the Constitution could be altered to facilitate discussions on an eventual agreed solution to the problem of the partition of Ireland.
5.
Comment on this
asked the Taoiseach, in view of the request by minority religious groups and others, and the anomalies which arise from the dissolution of marriage through the annulment process of the Catholic Church, if he will initiate the necessary steps to amend the Constitution to provide for divorce.
Comment on this
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together.
The Deputy will no doubt be aware of the work on these and related subjects done by the Committee on the Constitution which reported in December 1967, the Inter-Party Committee on the Implications of Irish Unity which operated between May 1972 and February 1973, and the All-Party Committee on Irish Relations which last met in June 1975.
Comment on this
The Deputy will no doubt be aware of the work on these and related subjects done by the Committee on the Constitution which reported in December 1967, the Inter-Party Committee on the Implications of Irish Unity which operated between May 1972 and February 1973, and the All-Party Committee on Irish Relations which last met in June 1975.
The Government have no plans at present to establish a further committee or commission for the purposes mentioned by the Deputy or to promote legislation to amend the Constitution so as to remove the prohibition on the grant of a dissolution of marriage. The Deputy will also be aware that I indicated in my address to the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis that we would consider it our responsibility in any discussion which might be embarked on or any settlement which might be proposed to ensure that the position of Irish people of all traditions was safeguarded in the Ireland of the future. Agreement would have to be reached on the constitutional measures necessary to ensure this.