  Constitutional Treaty: Presentation.
Chairman:   The first item on the agenda is a discussion with Professor Richard Sinnott. On ++ Professor Richard Sinnott: Thank you very much, Chairman. My presentation will be more of an elaboration +++ Chairman: To assist those in the Visitors Gallery, could you colour-code the three charts + Professor Sinnott: I apologise, I should have been more explicit. The two lines on the graph I am +++++ Deputy Quinn: On a point of clarification, does the maroon bar on the graph represent the + Professor Sinnott: Yes. The maroon is the EU 25 average. The light blue section of the graph + Deputy Quinn: Thank you. Professor Sinnott: On the policy areas of immigration, accepting refugees and defence, Irish +++++++++ Chairman: We can come back to that. Members may have questions about the presentation, ++ Professor Sinnott: That is what I had in mind when I said I might be more able to explain the + Chairman: Senator Ormonde’s point was that we cannot just do that, and I agree with + Professor Sinnott: That is right. Political science does not have clear answers to this problem +++ Deputy Allen: Professor Sinnott said the challenge is to increase people’s knowledge of ++ Professor Sinnott: I have made a note of several of the interesting points the Deputy made. There +++ Chairman: You are saying, in effect, that it is entirely in our hands and the activity + Professor Sinnott: Yes, definitely. Deputy Quinn: I thank the professor for his presentation and the accompanying documentation. + Professor Sinnott: It is a fair assessment. Deputy Quinn: The professor has indicated in one of the charts that the better informed ++++ Professor Sinnott: It would. The evidence is fairly specific on that. In the second Nice ++ Senator McDowell: I carefully read the information about the two Nice referenda and the various +++ Professor Sinnott: If the question focuses on a general approval or a generally positive approach +++++ Senator Ormonde: I welcome Professor Sinnott and I have found the discussion stimulating. The +++ Professor Sinnott: Yes. Senator Ormonde: That is interesting because I would have thought the “No” people + Professor Sinnott: I want to clarify the last point which is somewhat technical. The increasing ++++ Senator Dardis: Does Professor Sinnott think that canvassing in by-elections is an efficient + Professor Sinnott: No. Senator Dardis: I want to revert to the question posed by Senators McDowell and Ormonde ++++ Deputy Allen: Or who is their Senator. Senator Dardis: Particularly who their Senator is. I am not so sure it is a bad figure. ++ Professor Sinnott: That is another series of questions which, with the Chairman’s indulgence, +++++ Deputy Andrews: Listening to the last part of Professor Sinnott’s response, I wonder if ++ Professor Sinnott: I think the Deputy is right on the first point he makes which is the danger of + Chairman: I wish to play devil’s advocate in respect of that matter. I understand + Deputy Sexton: People in general are apathetic towards European politics. However, I am also ++ Professor Sinnott: I do not believe that such research has been carried out. The Deputy’s ++ Deputy Ó Snodaigh: This will probably be one of the longest constitutional referendum campaigns +++ Professor Sinnott: The Deputy is correct that, when pressed afterward, a substantial majority of +++ Deputy D. Wallace: Does Professor Sinnott accept the referendum will represent a consolidation of ++ Professor Sinnott: I concur with the Deputy on that issue, despite the devil’s advocacy by ++ Chairman: One of the most significant issues emerging from this meeting is members’ + Deputy Quinn: I acknowledge the Chairman is playing devil’s advocate and is providing + Professor Sinnott: The evidence on that is clear. Deputy Quinn: This is scientific data similar to opinion polls and it is used to reach fair, + Chairman: I am sorry Professor Sinnott cannot complete his presentation but he will have + Professor Sinnott: I thank the committee. We are working on a basic presentation of the socio- + Sitting suspended at 3.55 p.m. and resumed at 4 p.m. Human Rights in Zimbabwe: Presentation |