Rights Watchdog Calls for “Blueprint” of Repeal the 8th Assembly
Press Release Thursday 12 May 2016
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has welcomed this morning’s clarification by the new Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD, that the “Citizen’s Assembly” on repeal of the 8th amendment mentioned in the Programme for Government will be modelled on the Convention on the Constitution that led to the holding of a referendum on civil marriage equality for same sex couples.
Speaking on the RTÉ’s Morning Ireland and on the Newstalk Breakfast programmes this morning (12 May 2016), Minister Donohoe said:
“There will be a Citizens Assembly that will consider this matter in the way the Marriage Equality issue was considered. The process that we have committed to in relation to considering this issue will happen, and it is my view that that will lead to a referendum on this issue in the coming years”
Reacting to the Minister’s announcement, ICCL Executive Director Mr Mark Kelly said:
“Minister Donohoe’s announcement this morning would appear to be another direct outworking of Ireland’s appearance before the UN Human Rights Council yesterday, at which its restrictive abortion regime was harshly criticised. The Convention on the Constitution model proved to be a highly-effective means of debating sensitive matters in an intelligent and nuanced way, leading to a cross-party consensus on proposals to be put to the people. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties believes that it is now incumbent upon the Government to publish its full blueprint for the new Citizen’s Assembly on Repeal of the 8th Amendment that the Tánaiste yesterday promised the United Nations would be up and running within six months”.
Note to editors
Audio of Minister Donohoe speaking this morning can be heard below: