Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

One of them was 13 words. It is a glorified debating society unable to make a real decision on anything. It would be bad enough if the only consequence of this proposal - and I do not think it is a consequence we should accept - was delay. My fear is that it will lead to further division and entrenchment of views on this most sensitive matter when we should be trying to map a way forward that brings the majority of people with us on the need for change. With all sincerity, I ask the Government to think again about the way it proposes to address the particular issue of the eighth amendment. We can look at a citizens' assembly to do other things, albeit I share Deputy O'Callaghan's views about the opaqueness of the issues being put before this one. I ask that the Government allows the only real citizens' assembly, which consists of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann, to set to work immediately to address this issue.

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