Govt must re-examine Citizens Assembly

SIR, The Minister for Health was quick to defend the process by which people were recruited to the Citizens Assembly, however the recent issue regarding its recruitment is merely the latest in a series of problems.

From its conception it has proved to be problematic. I feel its purpose was to remove responsibility for the abortion issue from members of the citizens assembly we call the Dáil.

When the Citizens Assembly opened it was revealed that one member had expressed prochoice views on social media. Apparently the company that chose this member failed to see or know this. Extraordinarily it was also revealed at the opening of the assembly that only 16 of the 26 counties were represented. Large parts of the country had no members or were under-represented. For example, three members were from Galway while seven were from Clare, despite the fact that the population of Galway is 2.25 times that of Clare.

Questions were raised at the time about the bias this could create. The bias skewed towards urban areas that could be expected to support repeal, surely this has to be considered.

Sixty per cent of the members voted in favour of abortion up to and even beyond 12 weeks. Contrast that with the 40 per cent support rate for a 12 week limit in recent opinion polls.

In the light of this and the circumstances under which replacement members were recruited I think it is time for our political representatives to implement an inquiry into the matter and halt this fatally flawed referendum process.

Sincerely,

Mary Lynch, Newmarket on Fergus, Co. Clare.