Today marks the government's first official step in a referendum on abortion.
The 99 people selected to be in the citizens' assembly will meet for the first time this afternoon. The first topic up for discussion is abortion.
The government's decision to use a citizens' assembly to gauge public opinion on repealing the eighth amendment, which enforces Ireland's strict abortion laws, has been called meek by both sides of the debate. It was a similar assembly however which recommended same-sex marriage be put to a referendum.
Members of the assembly will not be paid fees and their names, counties and urban districts will be published.
The assembly is being presided over by Supreme Court Judge Mary Laffoy who has said she expects they will report on the abortion issue by the end of June.
The 99 members who are said to be an accurate representation of the Irish people in age, gender and social demographic will meet again on October 25th. Members of the public are being invited to make their own submissions on abortion
here for inclusion in the next meeting.
