The Eighth: ‘Tone policing’ and the Citizens’ Assembly

Just because the Citizens’ Assembly has recommended a woman’s right to choose, that doesn’t mean the citizenry will endorse that position in a vote, says Michael Clifford.

On Monday last week, I was covering an event taking place in Dublin’s Smithfield Square ahead of the Jobstown trial when Solidary TD Ruth Coppinger sidled up to me. She wore a broad grin and suggested with a good nature that maybe she was owed an apology.

She was referring to a column I had written and a subsequent exchange between us on the Tonight with Vincent Browne programme a few months ago.