Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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637. To ask the Minister for Health if he has agreed to a request to accelerate preparations for a referendum on the Eighth Amendment and to have a parallel process to run alongside the Oireachtas joint committee that is currently established to examine the report of the Citizens' Assembly. [29762/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I wish to assure the Deputy that I have great regard for the important body of work with which the Special Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution has been charged - namely to consider the report of the Citizens’ Assembly and to recommend to the Oireachtas the policy direction it should consider on the issue of the Eighth Amendment.

My Department, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, is seeking to explore and research the issue so that, in so far as is feasible, as much preparation as possible can be drawn upon once the Special Joint Committee finalises its recommendations. In particular, I am concerned that we are prepared in the event that a decision is made by the Oireachtas to hold a referendum on the Eighth Amendment. This will be important if we are to complete the process in line with the timetable set out by the Taoiseach.