Letter to the Editor by Michael J. Cummings

Posted by Jim on May 28, 2015

May 26, 2015

Letters Editor

IRISH TIMES

Irish Times Bldg

Box 74

24-28 Tara St

Dublin 2 Ireland

 

Dear Editor:

 

Ms. Frances Fitzgerald, Minister for Justice and Equality has vowed to quickly submit legislation to amend the Constitution pursuant to the results of the recent referendum on legalization of same sex marriage.  This seems prudent in light of the all-party support and 60% vote in favor of  the amendment.

 

 It is a pity, however, that another referendum, the May, 1998 vote on accepting the amendments to the constitution and supporting the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement has not inspired the same attention by the  Minister.  As a bi-lateral  and international treaty with the British government with  nearly the same voter support (56%) as that of the recent referendum,  Ms.  Fitzgerald is duty bound to enforce provisions of the amended Agreement requiring a public and independent inquiry into the British admitted murder of attorney Patrick Finucane and, more importantly, to use the European Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty to compel British  production of documents regarding the Dublin Monaghan bombings.  She has done neither. 

 

The rights of anyone in Ireland…gay or otherwise…will mean little if Britain can support the extra-legal murder of  Irish  citizens and be confident the Minister of Justice and Equality will not have the guts to hold them accountable.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Cummings

Albany, NY