The Citizens’ Assembly must consult widely with medical, legal and human rights experts and report back to the Oireachtas by February 2017. That’s according to the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment, which held an event in Dublin this morning (29.09.16) to highlight its concerns about how the Assembly will conduct its work.
Speaking at the event, Ailbhe Smyth, Convenor of the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment, said: “We have serious concerns about the Citizens’ Assembly, and we are appealing to its members to take these on board.
“First of all, we believe it is imperative that the Assembly consults widely with medical, legal and human rights experts, both nationally and internationally. And, above all, there must be a recognition that the ultimate experts in this debate are women themselves. The abortion debate has, for too long, been ruled by emotions; it now needs to be informed by expertise, experience and facts.
“Secondly, we would like to see a tight timeframe for reporting agreed at the Assembly’s first meeting on 15th October. Public patience on this issue is running low. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets last weekend for the March for Choice. Against a backdrop of such widespread public demand for change, the Assembly must do its work efficiently and report back to the Oireachtas by February 2017.
“Furthermore, the Oireachtas Committee to consider the Assembly’s recommendations should be appointed now, and should also commit to making its recommendations to government within an efficient three-month timeframe.”
‘Remove, Not Replace’
Ms. Smyth said the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment wants the Citizens’ Assembly to focus on removing the Eighth Amendment completely from the Constitution, rather than replacing it with an alternative clause.
“A constitution is no place for reproductive healthcare policy,” she said. “We want to see the Eighth Amendment removed, not replaced.
“Ireland is almost unique in having a constitutional clause that restricts reproductive choices. Very few other jurisdictions have comparable restrictions – Chile, Hungary, El Salvador and the Philippines, for example.”
Coalition Members: Amnesty International, ICCL, IFPA, NWCI
Representatives from four member organisations of the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment also spoke at today’s event:
- Niall Behan, Chief Executive of the Irish Family Planning Association;
- Deirdre Duffy, Deputy Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties;
- Colm O’Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International; and
- Orla O’Connor, Director of the National Women’s Council of Ireland.
The Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment is now the largest ever civil society grouping in Ireland working to achieve constitutional change on this issue. Its 65 members range from human rights, feminist and pro-choice organisations to trade unions, NGOs and community groups. Combined, the members represent 1.5 million people nationwide.
Further information is available at: www.repealeight.ie.
