Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Enda Kenny, Tom Arnold and Eamon Gilmore pictured today. Government press office

At last: Constitutional Convention to hold first meeting in December

The first meeting of the Constitutional Convention was delayed as the Government searched for a chairperson – but it’s now set to meet at the start of December

IT HAS TAKEN longer than expected to organise but the first meeting of the Constitutional Convention has been confirmed for the start of December.

Chair of the Convention Tom Arnold today met with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore to discuss the initial meeting of the body tasked with examining how to reform and modernise the 1937 Constitution. The first official meeting will take place on Saturday 1 December in Dublin Castle.

The Convention had been due to begin meeting in October but was delayed as the search for a suitable chairperson took longer than had been expected.

The 100-strong Convention will be made up of 66 members of the public who were chosen by a polling company as a representative sample of the Irish public, along with 33 politicians from political parties on both sides of the border, and the chairperson. The group will meet on eight weekends over the next year.

The Convention will initially be looking at whether the current presidential term of seven years should be reduced, and whether the voting age should be lowered from 18.

Further issues that will be examined by the Convention include same sex marriage and the electoral system.

Read: Drumroll please: Chair of the Constitutional Convention is… Tom Arnold >

Read: Taoiseach won’t be ‘pressurised into box-ticking exercise on gay marriage stance’ >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
17 Comments
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds