Justice Mary Laffoy to chair citizens’ assembly on abortion

Ms Justice Mary Laffoy is to chair the citizens' convention tasked with examining the Eighth Amendment.

Ms Justice Laffoy, a serving Supreme Court judge, was appointed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny to lead the body.

Her role will be to chair the 100-member convention which has been asked to consider issues including the Eighth Amendment, which places the life of the unborn on an equal footing with 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 convention is to be established by October and the Eighth Amendment is the first issue it will examine. The conclusions will be forwarded to an Oireachtas committee.

Casting vote

Ireland’s ageing population, fixed-term parliaments and the manner in which referendums are held are also to be examined. All matters will be determined by a majority of the votes of members present and voting, other than the chair who will have the casting vote if required.

The Government will be required to provide a response to each recommendation of the assembly and, if accepting the recommendation, indicate the time frame it envisages for any related referendum.

Ms Justice Laffoy was a former chair of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. She resigned her position in 2003 amid claims of lack of government co-operation.

She was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2013.

The Cabinet is also extending the terms of reference of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. It will now report in February, 2018.