Madam, - As a Green Party member, I am extremely worried about the implications of the new Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill for legitimate forms of social and political protest such as anti-globalisation activities.
While it is clear that there must be a co-ordinated response by the international community to the threat of terrorism, it is important that the measures which are introduced are proportionate and respect the fundamental civil rights of citizens. This new Bill defines as terrorism any activity which unduly compels a government or international organisation to change course. The destabilisation or destruction of the fundamental political, economic or social structures of a state or an international organisation is also covered by this definition.
I believe that the thrust of this Bill is extremely worrying. For example, this new Justice Bill will potentially criminalise the growing global movement that seeks the fundamental reform of the powerful international World Trade Organisation. In recent years there has been a global convergence of diverse interest groups including trade unions and human rights, aid and development and environmental groups around the issue of international trade rules.
This new movement has become increasingly vocal about the way in which the trade rules agreed by the WTO continue to promote the interests of multi-national corporations at the expense of developing countries, workers and the environment.
The Green Party is very concerned at the prospect of introducing unnecessarily repressive legislation that will stifle such legitimate social and political dissent. As Irish citizens, I believe that we must make sure that the emergency powers that the State assumes are proportionate to the scale of the threat to which it is supposedly responding. It is important to consider whether important social and political movements such as the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, or even the civil rights movement in the United States could have achieved what they did if legislation such as the new Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill had been in place.
The Green Party intends to play an active role in debating this Criminal Justice Bill and in proposing the amendment of what we view as some of its worrying and illiberal provisions. It is my hope that a liberal newspaper such as The Irish Times will critically examine the potential implications of this legislation and allow the citizens of this State to fully assess it well in advance of its enactment. - Yours, etc.,
Cllr DEIRDRE de BÚRCA, Bray, Co Wicklow.