Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

In the programme for Government, the Taoiseach initiated the Citizens' Assembly. How long will it be allowed to run? When will this Dáil be allowed to legislate on this issue?

I am asking because of two events that took place over the weekend. First, it emerged that the Citizens' Assembly is only going to be shown fewer than 3% of the 13,500 submissions made. That is an absolutely farcical situation. People were exhorted to make their views known and to give their opinions to the assembly. The assembly members will be shown a random sample. I am unsure who selects the random sample or how it will be decided that a submission is fit to be shown to them. Second, Marie Stopes UK and the British Pregnancy Advisory Service have issued statements to the effect that they now have to turn Irish women away from their services and refer them elsewhere because of the pressure on their services and the numbers. They can no longer do the dirty work of this country. This is a serious issue for women who will not be able to access abortion in Britain.

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