THE CITIZENS' ASSEMBLY has voted to recommend changing the constitution to limit the Taoiseach’s ability to call an election.
The assembly also voted to recommend four-year fixed-term parliaments.
After discussions on whether there should be greater restrictions on the Taoiseach’s ability to advise the President to dissolve Dáil Éireann, 51 per cent (36 votes) voted in favour of changing the constitution.
Members were also asked how long a parliamentary term should be, with 59 per cent (39 votes) in favour of a four-year fixed term.
Currently general elections are held every five years.
However 95 per cent (63 votes) opposed an absolute fixed term, agreeing a fixed term could be cut short due to certain conditions.
The Citizens' Assembly is a body comprising the Chairperson and 99 citizens, randomly selected to be broadly representative of the Irish electorate, established to consider some of the most important issues facing Ireland’s future.
This weekend was the final meeting of the assembly, having previously voted on four other topics.
On Ireland’s abortion laws, members voted in favour of amending, rather than repealing, the Eighth Amendment.
RESULTS of the #CitizensAssembly on Fixed Term Parliaments - Question 1 pic.twitter.com/xHoEceqJkJ
— Citizens' Assembly (@CitizAssembly) April 15, 2018
RESULTS of the #CitizensAssembly on Fixed Term Parliaments - Question 2 pic.twitter.com/HxTh53kJ2c
— Citizens' Assembly (@CitizAssembly) April 15, 2018
RESULTS of the #CitizensAssembly on Fixed Term Parliaments - Question 3 pic.twitter.com/sQ1dQtiAzn
— Citizens' Assembly (@CitizAssembly) April 15, 2018
RESULTS of the #CitizensAssembly on Fixed Term Parliaments - Question 4 (*4 recommendations) pic.twitter.com/h0YnzianYh
— Citizens' Assembly (@CitizAssembly) April 15, 2018
