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Petition Question

  • 19-07-2012 7:04pm
    #1
    Elfinknight
    Closed Accounts Posts: 145 ✭✭


    Hi All,

    Can anybody tell me how many signatures are needed on a petition to call for an election in this country or to repeal a law or motion that has been passed by the Dail.

    In fact, can anybody tell me if such a thing is possible?

    Just wondering


Comments

  • #2
    oscarBravo
    Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 28,820 Mod ✭✭✭✭oscarBravo


    There's no such mechanism that I'm aware of.


  • #3
    Scofflaw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,283 ✭✭✭✭Scofflaw


    There's no allowance for it in the Constitution, certainly. The most effective known mechanism is to write your petition on a placard and get OAPs to present them at the Dáil en masse.

    cordially,
    Scofflaw


  • #4
    Elfinknight
    Closed Accounts Posts: 145 ✭✭Elfinknight


    Thanks for that folks.

    Is there any country that has such a mechanism I wonder?
    And if so, how well does it work?


  • #5
    ArmaniJeanss
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,516 ✭✭✭✭ArmaniJeanss


    Elfinknight wrote: »
    Thanks for that folks.

    Is there any country that has such a mechanism I wonder?
    And if so, how well does it work?

    America has recall elections but only at State level.
    You can recall your governor but not your senator or president.
    Link : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recall_election
    Switzerland also it seems, but again only at local level.


  • #6
    Manach
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 9,735 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manach


    Under the pre-1937 constitution, AFAIR, there was a similar mechanism to what the OP mentioned.


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  • #7
    Feathers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,082 ✭✭✭Feathers


    The Greens had something along those lines in their programme for government before getting elected (though much weaker, think it just got it debated in the Dáil). Of course they shelved it as soon as they sat down with Fianna Fáil. Britain has similar too, but again only gets it on the agenda in parliament.

    Recall elections for your TD would be a great idea.


  • #8
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    Feathers wrote: »

    Recall elections for your TD would be a great idea.

    They don't work in a multiseat constituency but do in single seaters or for a single post like a US State Governor.


  • #9
    Feathers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,082 ✭✭✭Feathers


    Sponge Bob wrote: »
    They don't work in a multiseat constituency but do in single seaters or for a single post like a US State Governor.

    Yeah, or else you could possibly do it if you set the number of signatures ridiculously high for it, e.g. equivalent to everyone who voted in the last election, rather than the quota for that seat.

    Thought it'd be great in terms of being able to have the option rather than the practicalities I guess :) Interesting from Wikipedia that Canada have it in some regions but it's never been used.


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