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The work of the Citizens' Assembly was praised in the Dáil

Citizens' Assembly likely to address gender equality

The next Citizens' Assembly will likely examine issues around gender equality, according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar who said the wider issue of equality between men and women will potentially be considered.

Politics • 29 May 18

The Assembly's recommendations are aimed at making Ireland a leader in climate change

Recommendations on tackling climate change published

The report and recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on how the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change has been sent to the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Environment • 18 Apr 18

Retired judge Mary Laffoy said she was satisfied the incident had no impact on the Assembly's work

Citizens' Assembly agreed with recruiters' pay rise

The Citizens' Assembly has said that it agreed with the Red C polling company that recruiters' pay should be increased for last December's search for replacement members of the forum.

Ireland • 22 Feb 18

Mary Laffoy said she was satisfied the incident had no impact on the work of the assembly

Red C suspends Citizens' Assembly recruiter

Red C Research and Marketing has apologised after it emerged that seven replacement members of the Citizens' Assembly were improperly recruited.

Citizens’ Assembly • 21 Feb 18

A report on the recommendations will now be sent to the Oireachtas

Citizens' Assembly recommends referendum changes

The Citizens' Assembly has recommended a ban on anonymous donations to political parties and campaign groups, weekend voting and lowering the voting age to 16.

Ireland • 14 Jan 18

Chairperson of the Citizens' Assembly Ms Justice Mary Laffoy addressing assembly members

Assembly considers manner in which referendums are held

The Citizens' Assembly is meeting this weekend in Malahide to consider the manner in which referendums are held in Ireland.

Ireland • 13 Jan 18

Members of the committee on the Eighth Amendment considered the Citizens' Assembly recommendations for three months

Motion passed on unrestricted abortion up to 12 weeks

An Oireachtas Committee has voted to recommend repealing the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. The committee also voted in favour of legalising terminations of pregnancy up to 12 weeks with no restrictions.

Ireland • 13 Dec 17

Assembly members have heard detailed presentations from experts about climate-related actions likely to affect every aspect of our lives

Assembly votes to remove subsidies on peat extraction

The Citizens Assembly has voted in favour of removing Government subsidies on peat extraction, with 97% of assembly members voting for its removal.

Ireland • 05 Nov 17

The assembly is considering ways in which Ireland can become a leader in tackling climate change

Call for farmers to pay their share of emissions bill

The Citizens' Assembly has heard that there is a strong case for farmers to have to pay a cost for the greenhouse gasses for their activities produce.

News • 04 Nov 17

Chairperson Ms Justice Mary Laffoy said that there is clearly a public appetite for climate-related actions in the energy area to be prioritised

Assembly holds 'inspiring' talks on climate change

The two-day Citizens' Assembly on how Ireland can become a global leader in tackling climate change was described as "inspiring" by Chairperson Ms Justice Mary Laffoy.

News • 01 Oct 17

Citizens' Assembly chair Ms Justice Mary Laffoy paid tribute to the 1,200 submissions on climate change received from members of the public

Heavy rainfall events to increase by 30%, Assembly told

The Citizens' Assembly meeting in Malahide, Co Dublin, has heard warnings from Met Éireann that the frequency of heavy rainfall events in Ireland is on course to increase by 30% while average summer temperatures could rise by 2C.

Ireland • 30 Sep 17

The assembly is due to meet again next weekend to discuss the topic

Assembly discusses long-term care for ageing population

The Citizens Assembly is meeting in Malahide, Co Dublin to discuss long-term care and facilitating independent living for an ageing population in Ireland.

Ireland • 10 Jun 17

Frances Fitzgerald said the Constitution is not the place to deal with the abortion issue

Abortion referendum should be next year - Tánaiste

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has said she believes there should be a referendum on the abortion issue next year.

Ireland • 24 Apr 17

The Citizens' Assembly Chair, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy, is to deliver a report on the Eighth Amendment to a Joint Oireachtas Committee within the next ten weeks

Mixed reaction to outcome of Assembly recommendations

Groups calling for a repeal of the Eighth Amendment say the Citizens' Assembly results show there is a huge appetite for change while pro-life groups say today's recommendations would result in what they termed abortion on demand.

Ireland • 23 Apr 17

The Citizens' Assembly is meeting for the final time this weekend

Assembly votes to amend Eighth Amendment on abortion

The Citizens' Assembly has voted to replace or amend the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. However its members have voted against repealing the controversial section of the Constitution, which gives equal rights to the unborn.

Ireland • 22 Apr 17

Mary Laffoy told the assembly that even with an extended timetable it was not been possible to accommodate all groups

Citizens' Assembly hears from advocacy groups

The Citizens' Assembly has heard from a variety of organisations drawn from opposing sides in the debate about the constitutional restrictions on abortion.

News • 07 Mar 17

Dr Donal O'Mathuna and Dr Joan McCarthy addressed the assembly

Chair of Assembly defends selection of speakers

The Chair of the Citizens' Assembly, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy, has defended her selection of speakers for its meetings to date on the Eighth Amendment.

News • 05 Feb 17

This weekend sees the Citizens' Assembly's third, two-day sitting dealing with the constitutional restrictions on abortion

Experts discuss issue of abortions outside Ireland

The Citizens' Assembly has been told that over 3,000 women travel annually from the Republic to Britain for abortions and that they tend to have their terminations later and to experience more isolation than British-based women.

News • 04 Feb 17

The special committee on water charges has 20 members across all Leinster House groupings

Special committee likely for 8th Amendment review

The Oireachtas committee that will consider the report of the Citizens' Assembly that is currently examining the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution will most likely be set up along the lines of the Special Committee considering water charges.

News • 02 Feb 17

The meeting heard from pro-life and pro-choice campaigners

Moral status of unborn discussed at Assembly

The first debate between pro-choice and pro-life groups has taken place at the Citizens' Assembly in Dublin.

News • 07 Jan 17

The Citizens' Assembly met in Malahide last month

Assembly receives more than 13,000 submissions

The Citizens' Assembly has received more than 13,000 submissions on Ireland's constitutional restrictions on abortion.

Citizens' Assembly • 22 Dec 16

This has been the first weekend-long sitting for the 99 ordinary members of the Citizens' Assembly

Citizens' Assembly chair warns of task ahead

Citizens' Assembly Chairperson Ms Justice Mary Laffoy has warned members that the task of making recommendations to legislators on the current legal restrictions on abortion is enormous and could overwhelm the body.

News • 27 Nov 16

The Assembly was held at the Grand Hotel in Malahide

Assembly told poorer women cannot afford abortion

The Citizens' Assembly has been told by Dr Brendan O'Shea, a member of the regulatory body for general practitioners, that poorer women here frequently accept their crisis pregnancies because they cannot afford a legal termination abroad.

News • 27 Nov 16

Ruth Coppinger said the momentum for repeal was obvious

Eighth Amendment move 'disgraceful' - AAA-PBP

The Government's amendment to a motion from the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit to repeal the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution has been described as a "disgraceful manoeuvre".

News • 26 Oct 16

The Taoiseach thanked the assembly members for their personal committment

Citizens' Assembly to submit report on abortion

The inaugural meeting of the Citizens’ Assembly has decided to hold four weekend-long meetings on the constitutional restrictions on abortion before submitting a report to legislators.

News • 15 Oct 16