Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together.

Under the programme for partnership Government, the Government is committed to holding constitutional referenda on the following matters: Article 41.2.1, regarding a "woman's life within the home"; Article 40.6.1, on the offence of blasphemy; Ireland's participation in the Unified Patent Court; and giving the office of Ceann Comhairle constitutional standing.

Three of these proposals arise from the Constitutional Convention, which sat from January 2013 to February 2014. The Government has responded to all of the convention's reports. A recommendation of particular importance relates to amending the Constitution to give citizens resident outside the State the right to vote in presidential elections. This is under detailed consideration by the Government.

In addition, the programme for partnership Government committed the Government to establish a Citizens' Assembly with a mandate to look at a limited number of key issues, including the eighth amendment, fixed-term parliaments and the manner in which referenda are held. In July 2016, the Houses of the Oireachtas approved the establishment of the assembly. The assembly is chaired by a Supreme Court judge, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy. It operates independently of the Government and will report direct to the Houses of the Oireachtas. The assembly has begun consideration of its first topic, the eighth amendment.

The programme for partnership Government also states that on foot of the recommendation of the banking inquiry, the Government will seek a review of the powers of Oireachtas committees in conducting inquiries and, based on this review, will consider whether there should be a constitutional referendum to strengthen committees' powers.

As regards timing, no decision has been made on this as yet. As I have previously said in the House, before any referendum would be scheduled I would bring a proposal to Government and hold discussions with Opposition leaders.

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