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Inaugural meeting of Citizens' Assembly
 post.jpg "The Citizens’ Assembly (2) post")
Taoiseach Enda Kenny speaking at the Citizens' Assembly today
The Citizens’ Assembly met for the first time at Dublin Castle today. The Assembly is a body made up of the Chairperson, Ms. Justice Mary Laffoy, and 99 citizens randomly selected to be broadly representative of the Irish electorate, with a mandate to look at a number of key issues.
Today’s inaugural meeting of the Assembly was an introductory session, allowing members of the Assembly to meet one another and gain a better understanding of the role which they will play in the Assembly.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny addressed the meeting.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny with Judge Mary Laffoy, Chair of the Citizens' Assembly
Speaking at the meeting, the Taoiseach said :
...on behalf of the Oireachtas I thank each and every one of you for your personal commitment, your civic generosity and above all your courage in contributing to this national discussion of such significant import.
In a world where anonymity seems to have so much power and so little responsibility, in this assembly, you are not only having your voices heard, you are putting your heads above the parapet.
And because you are, I’m asking Ireland, public and private, official and unofficial, to allow you undertake this vital work with the necessary dignity, space and freedom.
Read the Taoiseach's speech here.