Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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60. To ask the Taoiseach the proposed running order of the citizens’ assemblies committed to under the Programme for Government. [44815/21]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Programme for Government, the Government aims to establish a Citizens’ Assembly in 2021 to consider the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin. The Programme for Government also provides for establishment of Citizens' Assemblies to consider biodiversity; matters relating to drugs use and the future of education.

Consideration is being given to the appropriate methodology for future Citizens' Assemblies, but any decisions in this regard will be guided by the experience of the Gender Equality Assembly which completed earlier this year. An independent researcher was appointed by the Assembly to monitor and record, amongst other things, the perceived deliberative quality of the Assembly. This report, published in July 2021, will assist in decisions on future Assemblies use of virtual meetings.

Officials from my Department are engaging with officials from relevant Departments on the approach to be taken with regard to these Assemblies. It is envisaged that they will be established after the Dublin Mayor Citizen's Assembly has completed its work, but the specific timing of each Assembly has yet to be confirmed.