Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. First, I endorse that call for immediate action on the citizens' assembly on the issue of drugs. The matter is outstanding and is urgent. As Deputy Gannon said, we know from our own constituency and the communities we represent just how critical this is.

I also want to ask the Taoiseach about a citizens' assembly on the issue of Irish reunification. We had the People's Assembly in Belfast, where people were gathered from across society in that city. The support for its citizens' assembly is overwhelming.

Similarly, the Ireland's Future event, which was a huge event in the 3Arena - the Taoiseach's own colleague, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, addressed that gathering - is equally calling for this. This is a very widespread call for the necessary planning that can be facilitated through a citizens' assembly. When will the Taoiseach move on this matter?

Finally, we are a decade on now since the overwhelming majority at the Convention on the Constitution, as it was then, voted in favour of extending voting rights for presidential elections to Irish citizens living outside of the State, including the North. It has been one whole decade and we are still waiting. This waiting needs to end.

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