Unpublished constitutional review report
Mr. Spring asked whether the committee’s report on constitutional review would be published and its recommendations adopted. The Taoiseach said the committee never completed it; although it can be accessed on request, he questioned whether publishing it would be worthwhile given subsequent constitutional referenda.
asked the Taoiseach whether he will publish a report, completed after publication of the 1967 Review of the Constitution, by a committee presided over by the then Attorney General, but which remains unpublished; and whether there are any matters recommended by that report which he is prepared to adopt.
Comment on this
Since the committee in question did not complete its report, the matter of publication or the adoption of recommendations does not arise.
Comment on this
In view of the fact that this document has remained unpublished for 20 years — by now it should have been lodged in the Public Records Office — may I ask the Taoiseach if he thinks it would be a useful contribution to the prospective discussion about constitutional reform and that the report should be published?
Comment on this
The Deputy will have to acknowledge that a great deal has happened since that committee sat. We have had constitutional referenda since then. I am not sure that the relevance of that report at this stage would justify the expenditure in publishing it. It can be made available to anybody who wishes to have access to it.