Carol Nolan
Question:49. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach the costs incurred from 2014 to date on the operation of each citizens’ assembly. [9091/22]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 February 2022
49. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach the costs incurred from 2014 to date on the operation of each citizens’ assembly. [9091/22]
View answerThe expenditure incurred by my Department on Citizens' Assemblies from 2014 to the end of 2021 is set out in the table below.
Year |
Expenditure |
2014 |
€327,000 |
2015 |
Nil |
2016 |
€274,000 |
2017 |
€1,535,000 |
2018 |
€534,000 |
2019 |
€201,000 |
2020 |
€732,000 |
2021 |
€594,000 |
During this period two Citizens' Assemblies and one Convention on the Constitution took place. Matters considered by the 2013-2014 Convention on the Constitution were:
- Reducing the voting age and Presidential term
- The role of women in Politics
- Same sex marriage
- Electoral reform
- Blasphemy
- Granting citizens resident outside the State the right to vote in Presidential elections; Dáil Reform; Economic,Social and Cultural rights.
The 2016-2018 Citizens' Assembly considered the following matters:
- The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution
- How we best respond to the challenges and opportunities of an aging population
- Fixed term parliaments
- The manner in which referenda are held
- How the state can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change
The 2020-2021 Citizens' Assembly considered Gender Equality. Expenditure incurred in 2019 was in preparation for this Assembly.