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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Rory Carroll Ireland correspondent

Irish referendum fiasco puts future of lauded citizens’ assemblies in doubt

David Farrell Eoin OMalley Ireland DCU
Counting in Dublin for the referendums to change the Irish constitution
Counting in Dublin for the referendums to change the Irish constitution. Voters on 8 March overwhelmingly rejected proposals to reword part of the constitution. Photograph: Damien Storan/PA

When Ireland shattered its history of social conservatism by passing a 2015 referendum on same-sex marriage and a 2018 referendum on abortion, progressives credited its citizens’ assembly.

Ninety-nine randomly selected people, who are brought together to debate a specific issue, had weighed evidence from experts and issued policy recommendations that emboldened the political establishment, and voters, to make audacious leaps.

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