The promised Constitutional convention which will look at proposals to
legalise same-sex marriage, remove the clause which refers to women in
the home and remove the offence of blasphemy is set to be established
next month.

However, a Government spokesman told The Irish Times that the convention
may not finish its work before the end of its current term in office.

The convention, which will be made up of politicians and ordinary
citizens was agreed upon by the Cabinet at its weekly meeting. 

A Government spokesman said that the required approval of both Houses of
the Oireachtas and the appointment of a chair would happen before the
Dáil breaks up for the summer recess, which would allow the convention
to begin work in the autumn.

The establishment of the convention was promised in the the Programme for Government.

Some 66 of the 99 delegates to the convention will be “citizen members”
and it is thought they will be chosen by a professional polling company
from data contained on the electoral register. 

The remaining 33 delegates will comprise politicians from the Oireachtas
and the Northern Ireland Assembly. One representative of each Northern
party will sit on the convention with the Oireachtas representation
reflecting party strength.

At the outset, proposals to reduce the President’s term of office from
seven to five years, and a proposal to lower the voting age from 18 to
16 will be discussed by the convention.

Other issues identified for discussion include a review of the Dáil
electoral system; encouraging greater participation of women in public
life; and removing the concept of blasphemy from the Constitution.

Initially the Government said that the convention would report back within 12 months of last year’s election.