Assembling right mix of people to discuss abortion issue will be hard

How can that elusive balance be achieved with a sort of random selection? Yet how can it not be done that way either? ask Alison O’Connor

The proposed Citizen’s Assembly is looking increasingly like nobody’s child. Apart from Taoiseach Enda Kenny, it’s difficult to find anyone summoning up what might pass for genuine enthusiasm for the body which is due to tackle the thorniest issue in Irish society.

The search will shortly be on for “a representative sample of 99 members of the public” who are willing to venture into the torment and heartache that is the abortion issue in Ireland. Perhaps there are scores of responsible and enthusiastic citizens out there who have just been waiting for this opportunity, but that seems somehow unlikely.