TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has said the AAA-PBP Repeal the Eighth Bill due before the Dail next week “cuts across” the Citizens’ Assembly’s work.

The bill, proposed by Ruth Coppinger and Brid Smith, is due to be debated 25 October, with a vote taking place two days later.

Members of the Independent Alliance are holding out for a free vote on the issue.

“The bill before the Dail next week, its a private members bill, cuts across that process entirely,” said the Taoiseach tonight.

Speaking ahead of Fine Gael’s Presidential dinner this evening in Dublin, Kenny said if the AAA-PBP bill was successful it would result in a referendum.

“If that bill was accepted there would be a referendum without any talk of what would be after that. As you know, nobody under 50 has voted on this important issue for years now.”

Free vote

Hinting that a free vote would fly in the face of the establishment of the Citizens’ Assembly, he said it would be discussed at next week’s Cabinet meeting.

“The government will deal with this matter on Tuesday as per normal.

“In my very strong view, that the Citizens’ Assembly be allowed to do its work,” he added.

Programme for government

Perhaps a subtle reminder to his Independent Alliance Cabinet colleagues, he reiterated his point that the assembly was agreed in the programme for government, which they signed up to.

The Taoiseach said the Citizens’ Assembly must report back before June 2017.

When asked what the possible outcome could be from the Citizens’ Assembly, a referendum or no referendum, he would not speculate.

“The Citizens’ Assembly is completely independent in its work… it is under the direction of a Supreme Court judge… there is no direction from the government or from the Oireachtas to the Citizens’ Assembly… we await their recommendations.”

He reminded those sitting on the assembly to be wary of social media and to “reflect” on its use.

Kenny was also asked whether this would be his last presidential dinner as Taoiseach. He was asked to clarify what he told his party members at a meeting this week about his tenure as the leader of Fine Gael.

“I said I would be around for a long time,” he said.

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