ÉIRE NUA FACT SHEET 5

NEW GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES

The proposed government structures will embody a system of power sharing, administered at the national, provincial, regional and district government levels. This system will ensure maximum distribution of government powers and will accommodate the unique and distinctive character of each of the historic provinces. In addition to the above advantages, it grants autonomy to each of the provinces to pursue interests for which they have a natural affinity including cultural, traditional and economic interests.

The National Government:  Éire Nua (New Ireland) will have a national parliament, Dáil Éireann, to which all citizens will give common allegiance. It will embody the unity and sovereignty of the nation as a whole. It will be the supreme national authority, acting in trust for the people with a special duty to uphold the constitution and protect the national interests at home and abroad.

Dáil Éireann will be a federal parliament in that it will be drawn from the Federation of Ireland’s four constituent provinces. It will consist of a single chamber of deputies, 50% elected by direct universal suffrage and 50% in equal numbers from each provincial parliament. Their actions will be governed by the constitution. The federal parliament will be responsible for electing a President who will serve as both prime minister and head of state, confirm government ministers nominated by the President, initiate and enact legislation, and approve the national budget.

The national administration will manage the affairs of state as mandated by national legislation. It will do so through its governmental departments. As administrative responsibilities will reside with different levels of government, the national government’s authority will be limited to those affairs that reside at the national level, including defense, external affairs, financial affairs and the judicial system.

Provincial Governments:  Provincial Parliaments will be established in each of the provinces. These parliaments will each consist of a single chamber of deputies whose members will be elected by the people of the provinces. Their actions will be governed by the constitution. The function of these parliaments will be to draft rules and regulations to implement legislative mandates, elect members to represent the province in Dáil Éireann, elect a provincial administration, initiate legislation, and approve the provincial budget.

Provincial Administrations will be responsible for managing provincial government affairs including natural resources, the environment, energy and communications, trade and commerce, third-level education and cultural affairs.

Regional Boards will be established in each of the provinces. The Boards will be comprised of elected representatives of district councils and expert representatives appointed by the provincial parliament. Regional Boards will be responsible for economic development, regional planning, regionalized health services and cultural development.

Local Governments:  District/County Councils will be established in each district/county. Each council will consist of a single chamber of representatives elected by the people of the district/county. Local Councils will be responsible for drafting rules and regulations to implement legislative mandates, and for approving the district budget. Their actions will be governed by the constitution.

District/County Administrators will be responsible for managing local government affairs including law enforcement, employment and work standards, welfare and social services, primary and secondary education, agriculture and fisheries, primary health care, recreation, the environment, public safety, and public housing.