Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The vast majority of Deputy Martin's party went to ground during that referendum campaign, which was an expression of great joy, exuberance and enthusiasm by thousands of people. I think Deputy Martin misjudged the mood a little but I admit that the Deputy said his piece at his party's Ard-Fheis.

There should be no reason we should not consult with a representative group of people. The company involved in selecting citizens for the Constitutional Convention was not setting out polls on this. It was the method by which one would contact ordinary people from all over the country based on geography, age, gender, etc. The Constitutional Convention had the participation of politicians and citizens and there were claims the politicians would outtalk others and tend to dominate. This assembly will be citizens' only. Of course, they will be free to make whatever conclusion or recommendation they wish but it is in here that the eventual decision will have to be made, namely, if a referendum is to be held, in what form and asking what question. From that point of view, the commitment in the programme for Government is to set up the citizens' assembly within six months. It will be overseen by the Department of the Taoiseach and I will see that happens.

I cannot answer Deputy Martin's question on when the first report will come back because the citizens' assembly has not yet even been set up. However, when its conclusions on this matter come back to the Oireachtas committee, which will engage with experts and whoever, it is its conclusions that will come back in here to a plenary session.

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