The next Fís Nua Convention will place on
Saturday, 12 November 2011, 12:00 noon*
again in The Teachers Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin 1 (map)
Motions and Amendments
All members are welcome to submit Motions and Amendments to Motions to info@fisnua.com. Motions must be received by midday Saturday 8 October 2011. All motions will be published on this website. Amendments to motions must be received by midday Saturday 22 October 2011.
All members, out of probation, can vote at the convention and all members are invited to attend and take part in discussions. We look forward to seeing you there!
Election of Co-ordinator & One FPCC member
Due to resignations, the position of Co-ordinator of the Party is up for election and also for an ordinary member of the Federated Party Co-ordinating Committee. Would all members please propose themselves or submit nominations (please confirm that the candidate is willing to stand before submitting your nomination) by midday Saturday October 8th to info@fisnua.com.
Postal or Email Voting
If a member wishes to apply for a postal or email vote instead of attending the convention, they must apply by email to info@fisnua.com, or by post to Fís Nua, Upper Killult, Falcarragh, Co. Donegal, by midday Saturday 22nd October.
The condition for postal/online voting is that the member attends in person at least one Convention in a legal year, or credibly affirms to do so. If you wish to have a postal or email vote then please state if you have attended any conventions in the past year (i.e. since 12 November 2010), or if not, make a affirmation in writing of your intention to attend the next convention. This affirmation should accompany your request for a postal or email vote.
Exceptions, to the requirement to attend a convention at least once a year for postal vote or online vote eligibility, can be made if there are cases of personal emergency (mourning, illness, disability) at the discretion of the Convention.
Fís Nua Logo
There is also a competition for a new Fís Nua logo. Please submit your suggested design before midday, Friday 11th November 2011.
* Note, change of date from that previously advertised as November 5 2011. This is to allow members to attend the Claiming our Future event.
Below are all of the motions and nominations received for this convention.
MOTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION AT THIS CONVENTION
Motions held over from the March convention
Motion to amend the constitution:
From Charlie Williams, Co. Donegal
Motion No. 1 (Was Motion. 26)
Article 6.1 Postal Votes, Online Voting
Members should be given the facility for postal or online voting for Convention motions and elections. The condition for postal/online voting is that the member attends in person at least one Convention in a legal year, or credibly affirms to do so.
Exceptions, to the requirement to attend a convention at least once a year for postal vote or online vote eligibility, can be made if there are cases of personal emergency (mourning, illness, disability) at the discretion of the Convention.
Any member who has voted by post or online must withdraw their postal or online vote if s/he decides to come to the Convention in person.
Delete: “The condition for postal/online voting is that the member attends in person at least one Convention in a legal year, or credibly affirms to do so.
Exceptions, to the requirement to attend a convention at least once a year for postal vote or online vote eligibility, can be made if there are cases of personal emergency (mourning, illness, disability) at the discretion of the Convention.”
Reason:
As we have the option of Extraordinary Motions and Amendments (Article 4.2) it would be disproportionate treatment of members voting at conventions and members voting (by email or post) at Extraordinary Motions and Amendments. There is no point to force all members to travel to conventions.
–
Additional motion from Pat Kavanagh, Co. Wicklow:
Motion No. 2 (Was Motion No. 27)
Amend FÍS NUA Manifesto – Health and Social Care by
Mental Health
We would:
1. Establish an Accountable Structure: Establish a dedicated executive position within the HSE that is responsible for implementing A Vision for Change. This should be led by a Director for Mental Health Services who has executive powers, an implementation budget and responsibility to report publicly on progress.
2. Publish a Plan: Publish a comprehensive implementation plan for a Vision for Change setting out deliverables, a timeline and who is responsible.
3. Financial Commitment: Commit to raising funding of mental health services from 5% to 8% of the health budget by 2016 and ensure transparency by ring-fencing an annual mental health budget.
4. Enact Legislation: Enact legislation which protects the rights of people with disabilities and binds public and private sector employers and service providers to operate with regard to the principles of A Vision for Change.
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Additional motions from Mary Attenborough, Co. Donegal:
Motion No. 3 (Was Motion No. 28)
Mental Health
Fís Nua calls for the immediate implementation, within the Health Service Executive (HSE), of the 5-point plan of the Campaign group Mental Health Reform as follows:
1. Establish an Accountable Structure: Establish a dedicated executive position at the highest level of the HSE that is responsible for implementing A Vision for Change. This should be led by a Director for Mental Health Services who has executive powers, an implementation budget and responsibility to report publicly on progress.
2. Publish a Plan: Publish a comprehensive implementation plan for A Vision for Change setting out deliverables, a timeline and who is responsible.
3. Financial Commitment: Commit to raising funding of mental health services from 5% to 8% of the health budget by 2016 and to clear reporting on mental health spending.
4. Enact Legislation: Enact legislation to improve the health service’s accountability for planning and financing mental health service reform.
5. Promote Cross-departmental Action: Promote specific cross-departmental action on mental health and the implementation of the National Disability Strategy to effectively combat social exclusion, prejudice and discrimination against people with mental health problems.
–
Motion No. 4 (Was Motion No. 29)
Rules & Procedures – Members’ forum and Members’ website
To insert in a Rules & Procedures document the following:
The FPCC should maintain a members’ forum and a members’ only website. Each new member with an email address should be informed of the existence of these by email (where they have informed the Party of their email). There should also be a Members page on the Fís Nua public website informing of these facilities for members.
The Full Name & method of contact for each member (as allowed for in the constitution Section 3.5 Transparency) should be published on the Members-only website.
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Motion No. 5 (Was Motion No. 30)
Rules & Procedures – Policy
To insert in a Rules & Procedures document the following:
Policy Document
All longer policy items should be published under Policy on the public Fís Nua website, with the explanation ‘Our policy is the combination of those items published on our website under ‘Manifesto’ combined with longer policy statements published under this Policy section’.
It should be the responsibility of the FPCC to insert abbreviated versions of these longer policy items into the Manifesto document, if required (i.e. if no existing Manifesto item could reasonably be considered to cover the policy in question).
All such changes to the Manifesto should be published on the members’ forum. The FPCC or the member(s) concerned should raise any disagreements, not resolved through the forum, at the following convention, in the form of a motion.
Explanation:
We should aim to keep the Manifesto as short as possible for use for election / campaigning purposes.
Motion No. 6 (Was Motion No. 31)
Rules and Procedures – Publication of results of voting at conventions
Insert into Rules & Procedures document the following:
Results of voting at Conventions (i.e. Passed / Failed and the name of the proposer) for Motions and Amendments should be published on the members-only website and not on the Fís Nua public website.
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Motion No. 7 (Was Motion No. 32)
Change to constitution – Principles to include Steady-State Economics
Insert into the Section 2 of the Constitution, Principles, before the last sentence of the 3rd paragraph on Economics.
“To this aim we support the macro-economic policy goal of a steady state economy that features sustainable scale, fair distribution of wealth, and efficient allocation of resources.”
Explanation:
Steady-state economics along with support for Local Agenda 21 (i.e. decisions taken at the lowest effective level) are central to the Party’s aims and define our distinctiveness from other political parties in Ireland. Both of these should therefore feature in our principles (Local Agenda 21 is already there).
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Motion No. 8 (Was motion No. 33)
Change to Constitution
Section 8 Public Representatives
Replace
“Public Representatives shall be accountable to the entire membership of the Party, and shall undertake to represent only those policies agreed by the party.”
With
“Public Representatives should be accountable to the electorate in their electoral area and to the Fís Nua members in their member group / electoral area. Public representatives shall undertake only to represent those policies consistent with the Fís Nua principles as outlined in Section 2 of this Constitution”
Explanation:
The claim to be a Federal party is unjustifiable if we insist on total centralization of all policies. Also we need to allow public representatives to listen to debate and amend their opinions based on information presented to them. However our principles must be accepted by all our members and by our representatives.
–
Motion No. 9 (Was Motion No. 34)
Membership Form
On the Fís Nua membership form – Section (b) of the affirmation change
(b) I support the Principles and Policies of Fís Nua
To
(b) I support the Principles of Fís Nua and I am not a member of another national political party
Explanation:
It is unconstitutional to insist that members accept all the policies of Fís Nua. The Constitution states “Membership of the Party is open to every citizen over 16 years of age who accepts the Principles of the Party and who is not a member of another party which stands candidates in national elections or of an organisation which is not acceptable to the Party”. We often invite people to join the party and help develop our policy – that also means make changes to existing policy. How can people possibly do that if they have to accept our policy in order to be members?
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From Pat Kavanagh, Wicklow:
Amendment No. 1 (was no. 8) to Motion No. 10 (Was motion no. 35)
Change the underlined wording from ‘terminated/termination’ to ‘suspended/suspension’ and insert after the words ‘Any membership termination, [or continued suspension]… etc’
“The membership of a single member or an affiliated group / organisation can be terminated immediately by the FPCC if they have been shown to:
a) Not have physically signed their membership form / application for membership
b) Wilfully provided false information on their membership form / application for membership.
c) Harassed, cyber stalked, disseminated false information or otherwise interfered with the rights of another Fís Nua member or member of the public or acted in any manner likely to bring major disrepute to the Party.
Such termination will have immediate effect.
Any membership termination [ ] is subject to ratification by a 2/3 majority at the following Party Convention and should be presented as a motion (without normal notice for motions being required) from the FPCC to be considered at the beginning of the convention. Should the motion for termination of membership fail at the convention then the member will be immediately reinstated.”
Motion No. 10 (Was Motion No. 35)
Amendment to the Constitution Section 3.4 Membership Termination
Change
“The membership of a single member or an affiliated group / organisation can be terminated by a 2/3 majority at a Party Convention. Such termination will have immediate effect.”
To
“The membership of a single member or an affiliated group / organisation can be terminated immediately by the FPCC if they have been shown to:
a) Not have physically signed their membership form / application for membership
b) Wilfully provided false information on their membership form / application for membership.
c) Harassed, cyber stalked, disseminated false information or otherwise interfered with the rights of another Fís Nua member or member of the public or acted in any manner likely to bring major disrepute to the Party.
Such termination will have immediate effect.
Any membership termination is subject to ratification by a 2/3 majority at the following Party Convention and should be presented as a motion (without normal notice for motions being required) from the FPCC to be considered at the beginning of the convention. Should the motion for termination of membership fail at the convention then the member will be immediately reinstated.”
New Motions and Amendments submitted since the March Convention
Motion No. 11 From Peadar Ó Ceallaigh
1. The party seek to undo the amendment National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004 and return to the National Monuments act as originally drafted
2. The party seek to add a rotating council structure to the National Monument Act to include a council / committee of up to 30 people and to include members of the public so removing one person from deciding on national monuments and in many cases our environment.
3. The party seek to define either by judicial review or procedural changes within the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to define an Archaeological area as larger than just a “monument” and at least 500 metres around its outer edge in connection with other monuments and areas of interest either archaeologically, wildlife and to include urban areas.
4. That all of the above (1-3) are encapsulated into new legislation defining conservation plans away from developer led heritage or management plans and the conservation plans are included in all local, county and national development plans with the ethos, that Conservation plans come before development plans, management plans, heritage plans (so called) and are not developer led, and conservation plans are themselves a legal document.
The aim of the four motions above is to protect water, soil, air from pollution as well as areas of national beauty and wildlife, in the country or in urban areas, whilst not inhibiting developmnet to sustainable standards.
Amendment No. 2 Amendment to Motion 12 Arts, Culture and Language from Mary Attenborough
Insert ‘crafts’ into the second sentence, so that it reads
“Fís Nua supports adequate investment in, and promotion of, art, crafts and culture.”
Change the third bullet point to add craft workers so that it reads
“Seek to establish appropriate social protection and other key supports for artists and craft workers and those who work in the arts and craft industry.”
Change the fifth bullet point to allow for Irish only signage in the Gaeltacht, so that it reads
“Call for greater support for the Irish language, bi-lingual signage (or Irish only signage in Gealtacht regions), official recognition of the language and full state support to residents who wish to conduct their business in Irish.”
Motion No. 12 From Mary Attenborough
Arts, Culture and Language
Artistic innovation and cultural heritage play a crucial part in enriching the lives of our people and also in attracting tourism to our island.
Fís Nua supports adequate investment in, and promotion of, art and culture.
Specifically, we:
- Support the National Campaign for the Arts (NCFA)
- Call for the arts portfolio to be held by a full Cabinet Minister and to be a substantive part of any new government department.
- Seek to establish appropriate social protection and other key supports for artists and those who work in the arts.
- Call for the establishment of a coordinated support network to aid local cultural centres and local history initiatives
- Call for greater support for the Irish language, bi-lingual signage, official recognition of the language and full state support to residents who wish to conduct their business in Irish.
- Call for the full implementation of the Official Languages Act 2003 in the Republic and support the campaign for the Irish Language Act in Northern Ireland.
- Seek to introduce adequate measures for the protection of minority cultures and languages such as Ulster Scots.
Amendment No. 3. Amendment to Motion No. 13.from Mary Attenborough
Motion is to delete the word ‘annually’ for frequency of elections of the FPCC.
Propose to amend this to, instead, insert the words ‘at least’ i.e. the new wording would be
5 Federated Party Co-ordinating Committee (FPCC)
“ The Federated Party Co-ordinating Committee (FPCC) coordinates the Party between Conventions, plans the Conventions and represents the Party between the conventions. The FPCC is elected at least annually at a Party Convention using a preferential Single Transfer Voting”
Reason: that the FPCC elections can be held as required but must be held at least annually
Motions from Pat Kavanagh
Motion No. 13. Change to Constitution: That we delete the word ‘annually’ from the following:
“5 Federated Party Co-ordinating Committee (FPCC)
The Federated Party Co-ordinating Committee (FPCC) coordinates the Party between Conventions, plans the Conventions and represents the Party between the conventions. The FPCC is elected annually at a Party Convention using a preferential Single Transfer Voting”
Reason: To allow for flexibility of movement within the FPCC when it is needed.
Motion No. 14. I propose the following to be included in our Manifesto;
“We oppose any development and practice of Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking) for the extraction of Shale Gas. We would revoke any and all exploration licences previously granted for Hydraulic Fracturing and Shale Gas Extraction.”
Motion No. 15. I propose the following to be included in our Manifesto:
“We would review the Foreshore Act 1933 to ensure tighter controls in the granting of Foreshore Licences, to ensure that the coastal environment and the greater good of the Irish Citizens will be the uppermost priority”
Motion No. 16. I propose the following to be included in our Manifesto
“We would seek to overturn the EU ban on the use of herbal medicines and home remedies”
Motion No. 17. I propose to include the following in our Manifesto
“We support Palestine’s bid for recognition as an Independent State and membership of the United Nations.”
Nominations for Co-ordinator
Brendan Kelly – proposed by Mary Attenborough
Nominations for FPCC
Mary Attenborough – proposed by Mary Attenborough
Donal O’Riordan – proposed by Pat Kavanagh
David Kane – proposed by Ben Nutty