Sir, – At the constitutional convention's consultative Galway meeting aimed at broadening its agenda (Lorna Siggins, Home News, October 31st) John Hughes of the Second Republic group pointed out that the convention must address the constraints of Article 46.2 whereby constitutional amendments can only be formally proposed by way of Bills submitted by Cabinet to Dáil Éireann. This is a crucial point.
Under the convention’s terms of reference there is no obligation on the Cabinet to put any of the convention’s recommendations to a referendum. It is essential that the constitutional convention examines the implications of article 46.2 for any future deliberative democracy initiatives such as constitutional conventions or citizens’ assemblies. – Yours, etc,
JAMES MORRISON,
Ardee Street,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.