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Constitutional Amendments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 November 2017

Wednesday, 15 November 2017

Questions (45, 88)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

45. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his plans for constitutional referenda in 2018. [47720/17]

View answer

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

88. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will report on his progress in assisting with the drafting of abortion legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48173/17]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 88 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government established a Citizens’ Assembly, in line with its Programme for Partnership Government commitment, to consider a number of matters including constitutional reform. The Assembly first considered the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Article 40.3.3), and submitted its final report, setting out its recommendations, to the Oireachtas on 29 June 2017.

The Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution is now considering the report of the Citizens’ Assembly in order to recommend to the Oireachtas the policy direction it should consider on the issue. The first public meeting of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, chaired by Senator Catherine Noone, was on 20 September. The Committee is to report its conclusions and recommendations to both Houses of the Oireachtas within three months of its first public meeting, which would therefore be due on or before 20 December 2017.

The Government has agreed to hold a referendum on the Eighth Amendment in May or June 2018 subject to the timely passage of a Constitutional Amendment Bill on the matter by the Houses of the Oireachtas.

I wish to assure the Deputy that I have great regard for the important body of work with which the Special Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution has been charged, and look forward to its report in due course. My Department, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, is seeking to explore and research the issue so that, in so far as is feasible, as much preparation as possible can be drawn upon once the Special Joint Committee finalises its recommendations. This will be important if we are to complete the process in line with the timetable set out by Government.

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