Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----and has the interest of the vast majority of people in the country. Unfortunately, when the very traumatic cases of fatal foetal abnormalities or other cases are brought to public attention, they are very traumatic, very sensitive and very heartfelt. The Constitution, however, is the people's Constitution and cannot be changed without the people's consent. That is why the people in the citizens' assembly should be able to give their reflection both on the eighth amendment and on a number of other issues which should not be sidelined either.

The Deputy asks me when the citizens' assembly will report. I cannot answer that for her until such time as the assembly is put together and begins its work. The programme for Government is set out over the period of the lifetime of this Government, which is intended to be five years. The Deputy asks me will the assembly report before the end of the period of Government. It is provided for in the programme, so the answer to that question is that I expect that it should, but let us get it set up, with all the criteria that apply to it, let it begin its deliberations and let us see what the citizens say. We will then bring those deliberations back to the Oireachtas, where Members will engage with experts on the views of the citizens and see what is possible and what is not.

As I have said, it is not as simple or as facile as saying we should hold a referendum on the eighth amendment. We need to know what it is that we want to do. We need to know what it is that we can do or might do and we must have the support of the people. I have no great regard or appreciation for polls that I see about these matters. It is when they are being discussed in some depth that people begin to say just how profound the decision is.

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