Model Dáil 2015
The sixth annual Model Dáil hosted by the International Relations Society took place on the 13th February in the Aula Maxima. The Model Dáil is held annually to encourage and stimulate engagement in Irish politics amongst UCC students in which the political societies in UCC including Young Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Labour and Sinn Féin as well as independent representatives were involved.The chairs consisted of Model Dáil Convenor Luke Delaney, International Relations Society auditor Garrett Mulrain, and Dr. John Sheehan, Cork city councillor for Cork North Central and Head Chair of the Model Dáil. The judges were Vice Auditor of International Relations Society Aimée Millar, Auditor of Government and Politics Society Donagh Kavanagh, and Ex-Officio of the International Relations Society Eileen O’Donovan.The three motions that were covered during the Model Dáil were the legislation of euthanasia, tabled by Young Fine Gael, the repealing of the Water Services Act 2014 tabled by UCC Sinn Féin, and the motion of no confidence in the government tabled by UCC Fianna Fáil.The four awards that were presented were Best Party, Best Speaker, Best Party Speaker and the George Boole Memorial Award, which is the award for best first year speaker, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of George Boole’s birth. This award is in its inaugural year, and only the frontbenchers and Independents were eligible of being judged for awards.The first motion of the Model Dáil was “A Government Bill to legislate for euthanasia in the cases of fully consenting individuals with terminal illnesses, or whose quality of life is diminished as a result of permanent illness or injuries” tabled by Young Fine Gael. Young Fine Gael proposed a bill for euthanasia for consenting individuals. The party believed that the need to legislate the motion of assisted suicide must be taken seriously and urged all parties to pass this motion.Whilst in favour of legalisation of euthanasia, Fianna Fáil expressed there were no safeguards for vulnerable people who may be exploited by parties written into a will of a patient eligible for assisted suicide. The party felt that Young Fine Gael’s drafted proposal needed to less vague. The Labour party also did not support the motion due to the concern of the lack of provision for those who cannot consent to euthanasia, although they commended Fine Gael for taking on the issue.Sinn Féin believed that the motion of assisted suicide should be taken in a level headed and logical approach. The party also said that infinite sensitivities needed to be taken into account. Independent candidates expressed mixed opinions regarding the motion. Whilst there were in favour of unpressured euthanasia, they were fearful of a possibility of coercion. There was also a criticism of Young Fine Gael’s drafted motion for being poorly written, as they questioned the definition of non-existent quality of life.The motion of euthanasia was passed with 28 in favour, 13 opposing the motion and one abstention from voting.The second motion of the Model Dáil was “A Private Member’s Bill to repeal the Water Services Act 2014” tabled by Sinn Féin.Sinn Féin strongly opposed to the Water Services Act. The grounds of repealing the act include: the lack of constitutional ability to put a referendum to the people on the proposed water charges and the requirements of households unable to drink contaminated water to pay 50% of the water charges. Independent candidates also called out for a referendum of the privatisation of water. They also voiced the need for a varied rate of water per usage as a better alternative as an incentive for people to pay less. Fianna Fáil were also in favour of repealing the Irish Water bill.Fine Gael and Labour fully supported the Water Services Act. They stated that the Irish water system has a lack of investment and infrastructure. Both parties articulated that water is an expensive resource, making funding unsustainable and unattainable. Young Fine Gael accused Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin of being populist as this tax is fundamental to pay back the international debt.The motion to repeal the Irish Water Services Act did not pass with 24 against the motion whilst 21 were in favour of repealing the Act.The final motion in the Model Dáil was the “Motion of No Confidence in the Government” tabled by Fianna Fáil.Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Independents favoured the motion of no confidence. The parties criticised their actions regarding the health system, Irish Water services and the education system. Labour admitted they made promises they could not keep during elections. They also pointed out the growing inequality between those who are given a chance in life and those who haven’t and economic growth was only to be found in the top and in Dublin.Fine Gael and Labour opposed the motion of no confidence. They both articulated on the improvement of the Irish economy and unemployment rates. The parties accused Sinn Féin of a lack of balance in their budget and the disagreements of government decisions. They also highlighted Fianna Fáil’s mistakes in the previous government.The motion of no confidence towards the government coalition of Fine Gael and the Labour Party was passed with 25 in favour of the motion and 22 against the motion.After the three motions were discussed thoroughly and were voted on, the recipients of the Model Dáil awards were announced. The winners of Best Party Speaker awards were Brian O’Regan from Young Fine Gael, Andrew O’Driscoll from Labour, Dion Davis from Fianna Fáil, and Orla O’Leary from Sinn Féin. The winner of Best Speaker was Colum Counihan from Labour. The winner of the George Boole Memorial Award was Dion Davis from Fianna Fáil. The winner of Best Party was Young Fine Gael.