Friday, February 16, 2018 – The Citizens’ Assembly (the Assembly) will meet on the 2nd and 3rd of March to consider and make recommendations on the final topic it is tasked with discussing, ‘Fixed Term Parliaments’. The work programme being drawn up for the weekend includes an overview of the current constitutional and legal framework on the Oireachtas, as well as examining other jurisdictions.
Today the Chair of the Assembly, the Honourable Ms Mary Laffoy is making a final call on all interested groups, organisations and individuals to make a submission on this topic before the deadline of 12pm on the 23rd of February. The submissions can be made on line or by post to the offices of the Assembly at 16 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.
Fixed Term Parliaments is the fifth and final topic to be considered by the Assembly and the draft work programme to date includes presentations, Q and A sessions and private roundtable discussions on the following:
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- An explanation of current law and practice on the summoning and dissolving of Dáil and Seanad Eireann;
- An overview of the political practice in Ireland on the summoning and dissolving of Dáil and Seanad Eireann;
- The experience and practice of Fixed Term Parliaments in other jurisdictions;
- The pros and cons and implications if Fixed Term Parliaments were introduced in Ireland.
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A full and final agenda will be circulated in advance of the March Assembly meeting.
Chair of the Assembly, Ms Laffoy said “As with all topics before the Assembly, the development of our work programme is guided by the submissions we receive. So today I am making a final call on all those with an interest in the area of Fixed Term Parliaments to make a submission. This will ensure that the Members are provided with a comprehensive range of views and materials when making their considered recommendations.
“The engagement of the public in each of the submissions processes to date has been a very important part of the Assembly’s engagement with the wider public. In total, across the four topics considered by the Assembly to date, in excess of 14,000 submissions have been received,” added Ms Laffoy.
The considerations of the members and their conclusions and recommendations at this final meeting will form the basis of a report to be submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas for further debate.
All submissions received by the Assembly secretariat may be listed on the website, in order of date received and displayed with a name/name of organisation, and the title of the submission. Submissions can be made online at www.citizensassembly.ie or by post to Citizens Assembly, 16 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, to arrive no later than 12pm on Friday, February 23, 2018.
For more information on the Assembly go to www.citizensassembly.ie .
Media Contact : Paraic Gallagher Q4PR : 087 818 0555, 01 475 1444
Notes to Editor
The Assembly is a body comprising the Chairperson and 99 citizens, randomly selected to be broadly representative of the Irish electorate, established to consider some of the most important issues facing Ireland’s future. The Assembly members will deliberate the topics as outlined in the Resolution approving its establishment, and any other matters that may be referred to it. Their conclusions on each topic will form the basis of individual reports and recommendations that will be submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas for further debate by our elected representatives.
