Thomas Gould
Question:2. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Taoiseach the expected timeline for and order of citizens' assemblies committed to in the programme for Government. [5207/21]
View answerWednesday, 3 February 2021
Questions (2)
Written answers
The work of the current Citizens’ Assembly on gender equality was interrupted in 2020 and delayed by the impact of Covid-19. The Assembly has adapted its methods to comply with Public Health guidelines and resumed its work with online meetings in October 2020 with the aim of reporting by June 2021. The experience of the current Assembly of operating on an online basis will inform the approach to the other Citizen's Assemblies to be undertaken in line with the Programme for Government.
Under the Programme for Government, the Government aims to establish a Citizens’ Assembly in 2021 to consider the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin. This Assembly will be established with a new Chairperson and new members following completion of the current Assembly.
The Programme for Government provides for establishment of Citizens' Assemblies to consider matters relating to drugs use; biodiversity; and the future of education. Officials from my Department are engaging with officials from the relevant Departments on the approach to be taken with regard to these Assemblies. It is envisaged that they will be established after the Dublin Mayor Citizen's Assembly has completed its work, but the specific timing of each Assembly has yet to be worked out.