Government to oppose bill on economic, social and cultural rights

The Government has said it will block a bill to incorporate economic, social and cultural rights into the Constitution, The Irish Times reports.

Independent TD Thomas Pringle is set to introduce the 35th Amendment of the Constitution Bill this evening.

It closely resembles a bill he submitted in 2014, which was backed by several other Independent TDs, including Finian McGrath and John Halligan, who are both now Ministers of State.

Mr McGrath told The Irish Times that he accepted the decision of the Cabinet to oppose the proposed legislation.

The bill would provide for a referendum to give explicit recognition in the Constitution to economic, social and cultural rights in Ireland.

The question of incorporating economic, social and cultural rights in Ireland has surfaced on various occasions in the last few years.

It was last debated in the Dáil in January 2016 and the Cabinet was divided over the issue. Taoiseach Enda Kenny reportedly expressed concerns to his colleagues that such provisions would lead to undue court interference in the allocation of public funds.

A 2014 report from the Constitutional Convention found a large majority in favour of strengthening economic, social and cultural rights in the Constitution.