Updated 15.53pm
TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has said the Citizens’ Assembly will hold its first meeting on Saturday 15 October at Dublin Castle.
The Assembly will begin by discussing the Eighth Amendment, and will also consider several other topics such as Ireland’s ageing population, fixed-term parliaments, referendums and climate change.
In a lengthy media briefing this morning, the Taoiseach said it could take six to seven months to report its recommendations, but that it would be left up to Judge Mary Laffoy, who will chair proceedings.
He also said a polling company had been appointed in terms of recruiting citizens to form an assembly.
The Government press office confirmed to TheJournal.ie that Red C Polling will be tasked with selecting 99 members of the public – plus 99 substitutes – who are willing to act as members of the assembly.
The first day of the assembly will take place at Dublin Castle. Subsequent days will be held at the Grand Hotel in Malahide, which regularly plays host to the Ireland football squad during home internationals.
The meetings for the assembly will be held over weekends, sitting all day on Saturday and until midday on the Sunday. The proceedings will be also broadcast online.
Water charges
Separately, the Fine Gael leader described Fianna Fáil’s decision in favour of abolishing water charges as a throwback to their old populism.
The Taoiseach said Fine Gael supported a single utility and a fair and affordable regime for water. The expert commission on water would report back in November, he added.
Kenny also said he would be receiving all submissions on the inquiry into Nama’s Project Eagle up until this Friday.
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