Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Fianna Fáil Party will abstain on the vote to set up the establishment of the citizens' assembly. We believe the issue is of such sensitivity and complexity that it cannot be adequately dealt with by putting together 100 citizens.

Fianna Fáil favours a judge-led commission which would be able to call and listen to various interested groups. It could provide a coherent report carrying the weight of members of the superior courts. A citizens' assembly will not be as effective. A report produced by a judge in respect of the issue would be intellectually coherent and would allow us to examine the options and choose one.That is the view of the Fianna Fáil Party.