Seán Rainford
@seanrainford.bsky.social
PhD candidate at Dublin City University currently researching constitutional amendment powers
In this forthcoming comparative paper, I argue that India's basic structure doctrine and the finality of referendums in Ireland both play an equivalent constitutional role of taking 'final say sovereignty' away from politicians.
Pre-publication draft: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Pre-publication draft: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
In this forthcoming comparative paper, I argue that India's basic structure doctrine and the finality of referendums in Ireland both play an equivalent constitutional role of taking 'final say sovereignty' away from politicians.
Pre-publication draft: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Pre-publication draft: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Join us at DCU's St Pats campus for an evening seminar comparing the Irish and Indian constitutions, hosted by the Ireland India Institute, next Wed 26 Nov.
Some leading constitutional lawyers and historians will explore shared influences and challenges between 🇮🇳 and 🇮🇪. All welcome
Some leading constitutional lawyers and historians will explore shared influences and challenges between 🇮🇳 and 🇮🇪. All welcome
November 17, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Join us at DCU's St Pats campus for an evening seminar comparing the Irish and Indian constitutions, hosted by the Ireland India Institute, next Wed 26 Nov.
Some leading constitutional lawyers and historians will explore shared influences and challenges between 🇮🇳 and 🇮🇪. All welcome
Some leading constitutional lawyers and historians will explore shared influences and challenges between 🇮🇳 and 🇮🇪. All welcome
On this part, with respect, isn't part of being an independent country that you can trust your own judgement? Just because we're out of step with X,Y,Z doesn't mean we're wrong. We're out of step with most of Europe on Palestine, thanks be to God.
October 29, 2025 at 11:58 AM
On this part, with respect, isn't part of being an independent country that you can trust your own judgement? Just because we're out of step with X,Y,Z doesn't mean we're wrong. We're out of step with most of Europe on Palestine, thanks be to God.
She'll be an active president, she's a voice of conscience and integrity, she understands the Constitution, she always challenges consensus, she's united the left like never before, what more reason do you need?
October 23, 2025 at 5:15 PM
She'll be an active president, she's a voice of conscience and integrity, she understands the Constitution, she always challenges consensus, she's united the left like never before, what more reason do you need?
The Taoiseach has a really unhealthy attitude to political debate. People can reasonably disagree about the merits of 🇪🇺 membership or whatever issue. He seems to imply here that we cannot dare disagree with him.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
October 20, 2025 at 7:59 AM
The Taoiseach has a really unhealthy attitude to political debate. People can reasonably disagree about the merits of 🇪🇺 membership or whatever issue. He seems to imply here that we cannot dare disagree with him.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Language of 'constitutional crisis' is too often borrowed from UK context. Unlike King Charles, the Irish President isn't part of the executive branch. The President criticising Government policy doesn't create a divided executive branch -> no crisis.
October 12, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Language of 'constitutional crisis' is too often borrowed from UK context. Unlike King Charles, the Irish President isn't part of the executive branch. The President criticising Government policy doesn't create a divided executive branch -> no crisis.
Presidential campaign battlelines being drawn. Govt party candidates favour an 'above politics' president (contra MDH); CC campaigns to be a politically outspoken president (like MDH).
Both options are perfectly constitutional...
irishexaminer.com/news/politics/…
Both options are perfectly constitutional...
irishexaminer.com/news/politics/…
September 19, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Presidential campaign battlelines being drawn. Govt party candidates favour an 'above politics' president (contra MDH); CC campaigns to be a politically outspoken president (like MDH).
Both options are perfectly constitutional...
irishexaminer.com/news/politics/…
Both options are perfectly constitutional...
irishexaminer.com/news/politics/…
Article 157 of the Ukrainian constitution even forbids amendments that violate the country's "territorial integrity".
August 10, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Article 157 of the Ukrainian constitution even forbids amendments that violate the country's "territorial integrity".
Leading questions, manufacturing consent
July 18, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Leading questions, manufacturing consent
One for the rule-of-law theorists to ponder...
June 30, 2025 at 2:26 PM
One for the rule-of-law theorists to ponder...
The public are the problem...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
June 17, 2025 at 10:26 AM
The public are the problem...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
In a stunning breach of convention, President Higgins appointed Jamie and I Co-Dictators for life...
April 22, 2025 at 5:44 PM
In a stunning breach of convention, President Higgins appointed Jamie and I Co-Dictators for life...
Only bit I quibble with in an excellent article by @sjamcbride.bsky.social ⬇️
We shouldn't assume the constitution of a united Ireland would allow central govt to unilaterally abolish NI's autonomy, presuming it's part of the final settlement.
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/colu...
We shouldn't assume the constitution of a united Ireland would allow central govt to unilaterally abolish NI's autonomy, presuming it's part of the final settlement.
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/colu...
April 22, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Only bit I quibble with in an excellent article by @sjamcbride.bsky.social ⬇️
We shouldn't assume the constitution of a united Ireland would allow central govt to unilaterally abolish NI's autonomy, presuming it's part of the final settlement.
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/colu...
We shouldn't assume the constitution of a united Ireland would allow central govt to unilaterally abolish NI's autonomy, presuming it's part of the final settlement.
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/colu...
I don't remember voting for him tbh
February 24, 2025 at 2:14 PM
I don't remember voting for him tbh
You instantly go from sounding lazy and unsophisticated to sounding smart, intellectual and sophisticated
January 25, 2025 at 3:20 PM
You instantly go from sounding lazy and unsophisticated to sounding smart, intellectual and sophisticated
A lovely false dichotomy on the OTB🇵🇸 from Pat Leahy here: the choice is apparently between doing the right thing and doing the smart, rational thing.
No prizes for guessing which approach the author (and the rest of the Sensible Grown Ups) favour...
No prizes for guessing which approach the author (and the rest of the Sensible Grown Ups) favour...
January 13, 2025 at 12:55 PM
A lovely false dichotomy on the OTB🇵🇸 from Pat Leahy here: the choice is apparently between doing the right thing and doing the smart, rational thing.
No prizes for guessing which approach the author (and the rest of the Sensible Grown Ups) favour...
No prizes for guessing which approach the author (and the rest of the Sensible Grown Ups) favour...
In the latest edition of DULJ, Jamie McLoughlin and I argue that political presidential speech *is* constitutional. Essentially our argument is that 1) the President's separation from executive branch and 2) their direct election undermines the supposed need for the office to be 'above politics'.
December 26, 2024 at 11:43 AM
In the latest edition of DULJ, Jamie McLoughlin and I argue that political presidential speech *is* constitutional. Essentially our argument is that 1) the President's separation from executive branch and 2) their direct election undermines the supposed need for the office to be 'above politics'.