Solicitor ready to challenge opinion poll ban in court
Limerick city solicitor John Devane confirmed yesterday that he is set to press ahead with a High Court challenge to the Electoral Act amendment once it is passed.
"By doing this they are effectively gagging the people because they are denying them freedom of expression," said Mr Devane. "This must be passed in the Seanad and I am just waiting for that to happen before I will initiate proceedings."
Mr Devane, a possible Fianna Fail candidate in the next local elections, said the ban smacked of sour grapes on the part of the party over recent opinion polls.
"Opinion polls have a way of assisting the public by raising certain issues and in that way are a very useful mechanism. The Government and others supporting this are eroding freedom of expression," he added.
Meanwhile, the deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Eric Byrne, warned of "creeping authoritarianism".
He said the amendment had been rammed through without debate and without allowing time for public discussion.
"Democracy is about two things, information and participation. The ban on opinion polls is essentially a ban on information," he said.
Mr Byrne added: "There is a creeping authoritarianism in the body politic at both national and local level.
"Unless the public, politicians and the media wake up to its dangers, we may find our democratic liberties being stifled," the Labour councillor said.
- Eugene Hogan
