Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

That all sounds great. My problem is in predicting our engagement with the Minister. Over the next period when we raise something that could radically overhaul the education system or bring in legislation that could enhance equality provisions within education, her go-to answer could very easily be that we will deal with the matter in the Citizens' Assembly. What I need from her is a commitment on when she wants the Citizens' Assembly to be established. Even if she could name a year, I would appreciate it. The last thing I or any Deputy wants to do is have a policy, motion or Bill before the House and for the Minister to pick up a script saying the Citizens' Assembly is the best place to deal with it. I ask the Minister to give me a year by which she hopes the Citizens' Assembly will have started its deliberation.

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