Govt dealt huge blow as Oireachtas inquiry referendum defeated

Government plans to give politicians radically beefed up powers of investigation have been defeated, dealing a huge blow to the coalition.

While a referendum to cut judges’ pay was unanimously supported, a second vote on whether to allow the Oireachtas hold major inquiries into matters of public importance was rejected.

It had been opposed by eight former attorneys general.

Alan Shatter, the Justice Minister who championed the defeated reform, denied he had been arrogant in dismissing the advice of the leading lawyers.

“When something goes wrong no-one is ever criticised, everything comes down to systemic failure,” he said.

The public voted the planned reform down 53% against.

Amid concerns that the proposed inquiries had the power to infringe individual reputations, Mr Shatter had argued adequate protections would be in place, including court appeals.

Some groups claimed it would lead to a shift in power from the courts to the Oireachtas as an institution, and politicians.

There were also many reports nationwide of voter confusion on polling day on Thursday and a lack of clarity over the potential impact.

Government TDs also conceded that the focus on the presidential campaign over the last month affected communication and debate on the plans.

Mr Shatter said: “The message is put out very clearly but it depends on how much media coverage it gets. People get their politics and information from current affairs programmes and the broadcast media.”

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties opposed the reform.

The referendum on judges pay was passed by more than one million votes, 79% in favour.

The Government will now be given the power to cut judges’ salaries proportionately if and when public servants’ pay is reduced in the public interest.

They will also be subject to the public pensions levy.

The second ballot on the Oireachtas inquiries narrowly failed – 928,175 votes against and 812,008 in favour