Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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336. To ask the Minister for Health if an analysis has been carried out by his Department in anticipation of the removal of the eighth amendment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33462/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government has established a Citizen’s Assembly, in line with its Programme for Partnership Government commitment, to consider a number of matters including constitutional reform. The establishment and terms of reference of the Assembly were approved by a resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas in July of this year. The Assembly is required to first consider the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Article 40.3.3) and report with its recommendations on the matter to the Oireachtas in the first half of 2017. The Assembly’s recommendations will be acted upon by a Special Oireachtas Committee, which will be asked to report in six months.

Judge Mary Laffoy, a Justice of the Supreme Court, is chairing the Assembly comprised of 99 citizens randomly chosen from the population. The first meeting of the Assembly took place in Dublin Castle on 15 of October and a list of dates has been agreed to discuss the Eighth Amendment over the next number of months.

My Department will consider carefully the outcome of the Oireachtas deliberation on Article 40.3.3. and assess any necessary policy or legal changes that may arise.