Chair of Eighth Amendment review committee appointed

Ms Justice Laffoy, former chair of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, was appointed to lead the 100-member convention by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

The body will consider issues, the first of which will be the Eighth Amendment – which gives equal weighting to the life of an unborn baby and the life of the mother.

Mr Kenny said: “The Cabinet, at its meeting, approved the appointment of Supreme Court judge Ms Justice Mary Laffoy as chairperson of the citizens’ assembly.

“The programme for a partnership government commits the Government to the establishment of a citizens assembly, within six months and without participation by politicians, with a mandate to look at a limited number of key issues over an extended time period.”

The body will also examine fixed-term parliaments, the manner in which referendums are held and the issues of Ireland’s ageing population.

The conclusions will be drawn from a majority vote of members – however, Ms Justice Laffoy will cast a deciding vote if required.

The assembly has a deadline of twelve months from its establishment to complete work on all its items.