Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
829. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects to publish one or more of the general schemes for the referendum Bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39819/23]
View answer830. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the work of the inter-departmental group tasked with progressing the Referendum on Article 41. [39823/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 829 and 830 together.
On 8 March 2023, the Taoiseach and I announced that a referendum will be held to amend the Constitution as recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality and the Special Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality.
An Inter-Departmental Group (IDG), involving all Government Departments and chaired by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, was subsequently established to further examine and progress work on these recommendations. The work of the IDG is well advanced and policy proposals, to include Heads of Bills, will be brought forward to Government for decision. It is important to clarify that decisions on the wording of any proposed Constitutional amendments and the publication of any related draft legislation are a matter for Government, which is supported in its work by the IDG.
