Citizens’ Assembly meets today to discuss the Eighth

The Citizens’ Assembly begins its discussions on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution today.

The Eighth Amendment, which amended Article 40 of the Constitution in 1983, acknowledged “the right to life of the unborn, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother”.

The assembly will be presented with a history of abortion law in Ireland by barrister Eoin Carolan, a run down on current practice by a group of medical experts, and a lecture on ethics by a professor from Oxford University.

Roundtable discussions and question-and-answer sessions will also be held today and tomorrow as part of the discussions.

The assembly is made up of 99 citizens from a broad spectrum of the electorate and is chaired by Justice Mary Laffoy.

“I am tremendously encouraged by the speakers who will be joining us this weekend. I trust they will take us through their work in a balanced and fair manner,” Justice Laffoy said yesterday.

All of the assembly’s public proceedings will be live-streamed on www. citizensassembly.ie over the course of the weekend.

Meanwhile, hundreds turned out in Cork and Dublin yesterday lunchtime, calling for an immediate referendum on the Eighth Amendment. The lunchtime rally, ‘Women Rising’, in Dublin was held by the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment, while Cork Pro-Choice organised the meeting at St Patrick’s Bridge.

The two rallies were part of an international day of support for women in countries where abortion is banned or difficult to access, such as Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Poland, and Mexico.

The convenor of the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment, Ailbhe Smyth, said the rallies were an effort to demand change from the Government on urgent issues facing women.

“The 66 member organisations that make up our coalition are calling on people to join in solidarity with women across Europe, South America, and Asia... as they rally to demand change from governments on urgent issues regarding women.

“In Ireland, we will be calling for a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment to protect and respect women’s lives, health, and choices,” said Ms Smyth.

“We’re saying that women deserve better and Ireland can do much better.”