Gerry Adams criticises structure of Citizens' Assembly

Sat, 15 Oct, 2016 - 08:34

Update 12.30am: The Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has criticised the structure of the Citizens' Assembly which meets for the first time today.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will launch the body which is made up of 99 randomly-selected Irish citizens and will look at a number of constitutional issues including the 8th amendment.

Mr Adams says politicians and people from the north should have been involved in the assembly.

Meanwhile, the pro-life campaign group The Life Institute says it is concerned that the assembly will recommend a referendum on the repeal of the 8th Amendment.

Earlier: Taoiseach Enda Kenny will officially launch the Citizens' Assembly which meets for the first time today.

The group of 99 citizens, which were randomly selected to represent Ireland's electorate, is meeting in Dublin Castle this afternoon.

Next month, the assembly will gather to consider the issue of abortion and the 8th Amendment.

Today's meeting will provide introductory information to the members, and set out the rules and procedures which will govern the assembly.

Lecturer in Constitutional Law at W.I.T Dr. Jennifer Kavanagh, says the assembly will encourage open discussion of issues:"The Citizens Assembly is important because it gives a space for different opinions and different views to be worked out on particular issues and that is all to take place over the space of a year which may or may not happen but within a year of the first meeting they will have to report back to the Government to let them know how they are getting on with the issues and report back on what has been decided in the assembly."

Niamh Ui Bhriain of the Life Institute, thinks one day is not enough time for such a complex issue to be properly discussed: "I think one of the interesting things around the assembly is that they seem to have very little time to meet to discuss an issue as complex as abortion.

"And what we would like to see the Government doing in relation to the assembly is to ask people to discuss the life affirming alternative to abortion."