1Yi – One Year Initiative, Campaigning For Electoral Reform In Ireland
On the eve of one of the most important general elections in living memory, the One Year Initiative is proud to announce the onset of its unprecedented campaign for electoral reform and a move towards participatory democracy in Ireland.
With the support of multiple TDs, Senators, MEPs, academics and thousands of citizens across the Republic, the 1Yi will call upon candidates in the upcoming general election to lend their voices to a public declaration of committal to democratic reform. This declaration will call for the establishment of a People’s Assembly comprised of citizens from every county in Ireland.
Those TDs signed up to the One Year Initiative will encourage the next government to establish this People’s Assembly within the first six months of the new Dáil term. The Assembly will then have one year to work towards developing the mechanisms by which to implement people-initiated referenda. These proposals will be submitted for public review before being put to the people in the form of a referendum question, to introduce the principles of participatory democracy into the Irish constitution.
If successfully implemented, these measures will grant Irish citizens the right to:
• Veto unpopular legislation.
• Propose new legislation for debate in the Dáil.
• Initiate a referendum when necessary.
• Call for constitutional amendments to be contested via referenda without government consent.
Irish citizens are encouraged to lend their support to candidates who have signed on to the principles of the 1Yi in the coming election to usher in a brighter future and a more democratic Ireland.
Aristotle said: “If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in government to the utmost”