The past few months have been characterised by heated debate over a possible repeal of the Eighth Amendment, banning abortion in Ireland, and now it looks like we’re a step closer to settling the issue.
According to reports today, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has approved the plan for a Citizens’ Assembly to address the Eighth Amendment.
The Assembly, which will consist of 100 members appointed by a polling company, is set to hold its first meeting before November and will have 12 months to complete its work.
While the issue of the Eighth Amendment will be top of the Assembly’s agenda, it is said that the body will be working on other issues such as the possibility of fixed-term parliaments.
The news comes just days after Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar urged careful consideration over the possible repeal of the amendment.
“Part of the reason why our abortion laws have given us so much trouble in this country is because we put an amendment into the Constitution in 1983 without considering it fully and properly,” Minister Varadkar told Newstalk, last week.
We will keep you updated as more information emerges.
