TAOISEACH MUST OUTLINE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES OF CITIZENS ASSEMBLY
Labour TD Joan Burton has called on the Taoiseach Enda Kenny to clarify the number of possible outcomes to be considered following the work of the Citizens’ Assembly regarding the 8th amendment.
It’s after the Taoiseach said there were more than two possible outcomes, during questioning from Deputy Burton in the Dáil today.
When asking whether the Taoiseach could confirm that the Assembly would have the right to propose the repeal of the 8th amendment, Deputy Burton pointed out that there appeared to be two possible critical outcomes from its work.
Namely that the members would either ‘propose an amendment to Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution, which would be put to the people as a fresh amendment’, or that ‘the 8th amendment should be repealed and that subsequent issues should be dealt with by Dáil Éireann’.
In his response, the Taoiseach said:
“There are more than two possible outcomes. There are at least six different options that could be chosen, depending on the Citizens Assembly and what it wants to do.”
According to Deputy Burton, it is now incumbent upon the Taoiseach to outline his six possible options and any other options that he has in mind.
“The convention reports to the Dáil, and so far, as Taoiseach, he has been the only member of the Dáil to address the convention. He clearly has deep held views that there are many, many options in relation to the 8th amendment.
As this is an important issue of debate for people right around the country it’s important that as Taoiseach he should level with people and set out his ‘at least six options’.”