Constitutional convention hearings not expected to start until January

The first hearing of the 100-member Constitutional Convention will not take place until January, sources have confirmed, resulting in huge delays in its work.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil recently that the first convention meeting will be held on Nov 24 or Dec 1. But this will be an introductory session for politicians and citizens and newly-appointed chairman Tom Arnold, where Mr Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore are expected to launch the convention.

Its first weekend hearing — which will consider the voting age and the term of the presidency — will not be held until the end of January. In the meantime, training and information sessions will be provided to members. The convention is also awaiting presentations from civil society groups.

Mr Kenny said in July he envisaged the convention beginning its hearings in September. With eight topics to debate and with no summer sittings, sources say the convention is unlikely to wrap up its work before Dec 2013. It was anticipated by organisers that hearings would conclude by next June or shortly thereafter.

After the hearings are concluded, the Government will be given four months to report back on convention recommendations, meaning any final decisions by the Government to change or not change parts of the Constitution are unlikely to be discussed until mid 2014. The Government has committed to reporting back on each recommendation within four months.

Mr Arnold met some of the civil society groups yesterday. Today, he is due to meet Oireachtas members on the convention panel.

It has also emerged three politicians from parties in the North are to participate.

These include the Alliance Party’s Stewart Dickson, Steven Agnew of the Greens, and Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness.