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! d r a e H e c i o V r u o Y Make

Why have a Convention in your Classroom? s to the main rule book of the This Constitutional Convention is going to propose change you, me and all of our families for country. These changes, if passed by the people, will affect voice is taken into consideration. a long long time. Therefore it is important that everyone’s I thought it might be a good As there are no young people represented at the Convention, discuss this together. idea to hear your ideas and to meet with you so we can all Make your voice heard!

Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Phone: 01 618 3209 Email: aodhan.oriordain@oireachtas.ie Web: labour.ie/aodhanoriordain

Get involved!

@AodhanORiordain Constituency Office: 203 Philipsburgh Avenue, Marino Dublin 3 Phone: 01 857 4020

#classconv

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Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD

THE CONVENTION IN YOUR CLASSROOM AODHÁN Ó RÍORDÁIN TD

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The ConvenTion in Your Classroom

WHO TAKES PART IN THE CONVENTION?

the irish Convention look at?

The Government have proposed that the following areas be looked at by the convention:

BACKGROUND: The Irish Constitution, Bunreacht na hEireann, was enacted in 1937. Since then a lot of changes have happened in Irish Society. In the last General Election, in February 2011, all of the main political parties called for it to be updated to reflect our changed Ireland.

1 Review of the Dáil electoral Reducing the Presidential term to five years and aligning it 2 with the local and European elections. system.

Since then, the government has established a Constitutional Convention to meet from September of 2012, to propose amendments to our Constitution. This group of people will write a report and make suggestions on how changes can be made. Afterwards, the government will be free to enact any recommended change by holding a referendum.

3 Giving Irish citizens abroad the right to vote in Presidential elections.

4 Provision for same-sex marriage.

What is a Cons titutional Convention?

A constitutional convention is a gathering of people for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing one. Another name used for this is ‘Citizens’ Assembly’.

Examples of ‘Citizens’ Assemblies’ / Constitutional Conventions have been held in both Canada, the Netherlands and Scotland.

What areas of the Constitution will

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the home and encouraging greater Amending the clause on the role of women in participation of women in public life.

6 The Irish convention will be made up of 100 people. 66 of these people will be picked randomly from the general public, in the same way that people are selected for Jury Duty. The other 33 will be politicians, including one representative from each of the main parties in Northern Ireland. There will also be an independent Chairperson.

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Increasing the participation of wo men in politics.

Removing blasphemy from our Constitution.

8 Reducing the voting age to 17.

Other issues that the convention feel are important.