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

My question relates to the establishment of the citizens' assembly. I make the general point that I remain to be convinced of the model. The Constitutional Convention was an interesting process, people involved liked it and there was a nice, touchy-feely sense about it. In reality, however, a lot of what came out of it overall was left to one side. Some ridiculous issues were put before it, such as whether to extend the right to vote to those under 17 or 16 years of age or whatever, which was hardly the burning constitutional issue of the day. There are issues regarding the model as well. My general point is that this House is the people's assembly. The referendum on marriage equality is often referred to, but that was not actually an outcome of the Constitutional Convention. All political leaders, bar the Taoiseach at the time, were in favour of a marriage equality referendum well in advance of the Constitutional Convention. In fact, it took the Taoiseach-----

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