Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We welcome the establishment of the citizens' assembly on drug use, but I ask the Taoiseach about the status of the commitment to establish a citizens' assembly on the future of education. Is there a timeline for its establishment and will it examine both the future purpose of the education system and the issue of separation of Church and State within the education system? Second, building a better society is a strategic priority of the Taoiseach's Department. In that context, I ask whether the Taoiseach is aware of the OECD Observatory of Civic Space, which is led by an Irish woman, Claire McEvoy. A civic space scan is a qualitative assessment of the laws, policies, institutions and practices that support civic space in a country. Designed to protect fundamental freedoms and promote good practice, these scans are accessible studies that provide recommendations to help governments respond to challenges and help to protect and promote civic space. Such scans have been carried out in Portugal and Finland. I have put in parliamentary questions on this matter previously. Would the Taoiseach consider the carrying out of a civic space scan in Ireland? I should say that I got a non-committal response on this from the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

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