Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the eighth amendment, let me again state that the idea of a citizens' assembly is very curious. It should not be left to a citizens' assembly at all. It will take six months to establish. That is my point. Given the complexity of the issue, I believe that it is not clear at all how a citizens' assembly could work on an issue so dramatically more complex than anything examined by the Constitutional Convention. A simple repeal is not an answer, in my view, because we still face the core issue of what the law will be. Any proposition to the people has to be legislative. This means in the first instance that if one wants to delete it, one must bring something before this House, and the House must put it before the people. We have freedom of conscience in our party and each individual member will make up his or her mind on the issue-----

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