Labour is to continue pressing for a further referendum on cabinet confidentiality despite Mr Dick Spring's decision to add his name to a statement with the four other party leaders calling for a Yes vote tomorrow. The statement, which was issued yesterday, says the amendment does not provide for every eventuality or for every exception. The statement also contains a commitment to ask the all-party committee on the Constitution "to formulate, at the earliest possible opportunity, any proposals they consider necessary to address remaining issues". This was the compromise agreed following the exchange of a series of draft statements between the Government and Labour.
When the initial Government draft was circulated to the various parties, it met with broad agreement from the other parties, except Labour, which insisted that it should contain a commitment to a further referendum.
"We were conscious that Dick Spring had suggested the all-party statement, and we did not want a situation to occur where the Moriarty or planning tribunals could not do their work adequately because the referendum was defeated," said a Labour source.
"So we were anxious that a statement be agreed, and a compromise was reached. However, we will be pressing for a further referendum to allow for a greater flow of information from cabinet meetings."
The statement is signed by Mr Ahern; the Tanaiste and PD leader, Ms Harney; the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton; Mr Spring; and the Democratic Left leader, Mr Proinsias De Rossa.
"We acknowledge that the work of the recently reconstituted allparty committee on the Constitution and the actual operation of the Moriarty and planning tribunals may well necessitate a review of the cabinet confidentiality issue," says the statement.
The statement says the party leaders have agreed that the public interest would best be served by acceptance of the current proposals. The main purpose of the referendum was to ensure that no obstacles were placed in the path of the courts or tribunals of inquiry, including when they were investigating serious misconduct, in which public figures might possibly be implicated, or other matters of grave concern.
"The proposed constitutional amendment has, therefore, an immediate relevance. Its endorsement will enable the Moriarty and planning tribunals to apply to the High Court for permission to inquire into cabinet discussions if they consider it necessary having regard to their mandate."
Urging a No vote last night, the Socialist Party TD for Dublin West, Mr Joe Higgins, accused the Government of hypocrisy. "Ministers will leak at will in off-therecord briefings to the press when it is politically expedient to do so, but will invoke the Constitution on matters which they do not wish to become public.
"If the Government was genuine about being open with the citizens of this State, it would have proposed an amendment allowing the greatest flexibility to deal with the matter.
"However, this Government's attempt to appear to be in favour of openness has already been dealt a death blow, given that it vehemently refused to allow the Moriarty tribunal to investigate the secret offshore accounts discovered in the Ansbacher bank during investigation by the McCracken tribunal. In this it is undoubtedly covering up dubious activities by some of the wealthiest people in the State.
"A No vote would send a powerful signal to the Government from the people of this State that they want no more of the `coverup' culture across the political spectrum, from deals between local councillors and land rezoners up to cabinet level."
