BREAKING: Citizen's Assembly votes to recommend a referendum on the 8th

Culture
22 Apr 17

The Citizen's Assembly, which was tasked with deliberating on matters to do with the 8th Amendment, has voted comprehensively that a change should be made to the current status quo.

An unprecedented majority of the citizens on the so called Citizen's Assembly moved - in a vote for 79 to 12 - to recommend a referendum on the issue of abortion rights in Ireland.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Assembly said this represents: "Clear support to change the status quo. If the Oireachtas were to act on this recommendation alone, a referendum would be required."

The Citizen's Assembly will now move on to a second ballot where it will decide whether Article 40.3.3 should be deleted entirely, or replaced/amended.

More as we get it.

THE CITIZENS' ASSEMBLY HAVE VOTED AGAINST RETENTION OF THE 8TH AMENDMENT #repealthe8th #repealnotreplace pic.twitter.com/aGoi0fYFdM

— Parents for Choice (@parents_4choice) April 22, 2017

"Clear support to change the status quo. If the Oireachtas were to act on this recommendation alone, a referendum would be required"

— Womenscouncilireland (@NWCI) April 22, 2017