Irish Constitutional Convention
- jonmoskovic
- Dec 11, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 13, 2024
Conference
In 2012, I observed and studied the Irish Constitutional Convention dedicated to marriage equality, which was a truly transformative experience for me (see Democratic Journey). I wrote my Master thesis on the dynamics of power relations within this assembly and the G1000, and I had the opportunity to interview numerous participants, both citizens and parliamentarians, about their experiences.
About the Irish Constitutional Convention
The Irish Constitutional Convention (2012–2014) was an innovative participatory body established by the Irish government to consider constitutional reform. It combined traditional political representatives with citizens randomly selected from the public, making it one of the earliest examples of modern deliberative democracy on a national scale.
Key Features of the Convention
1. Composition
100 members
66 randomly selected citizens
33 members of the Irish Parliament (Oireachtas)
1 independent chairperson
The citizens were chosen to be broadly representative of Ireland's demographic diversity (age, gender, region, etc.).
2. Mandate
The Convention was tasked with examining specific constitutional issues, including:
Reducing the voting age.
Length of the presidential term.
Same-sex marriage.
Role of women in the home.
Electoral system reforms.
Members could also propose additional topics for discussion.
3. Deliberative process
Members received expert presentations and balanced briefing materials.
Discussions were facilitated in small groups, promoting informed and respectful debate.
Decisions were made through secret ballots.
4. Outcomes
The Convention recommended several significant reforms, notably supporting same-sex marriage, which directly influenced the 2015 Irish referendum that legalized it.
It also paved the way for further deliberative exercises in Ireland, like the Citizens' Assembly (2016–2018), which dealt with sensitive topics such as abortion and climate change.
The Irish Constitutional Convention is widely regarded as a landmark in participatory democracy, showcasing the potential for ordinary citizens to engage meaningfully in complex political decision-making. It has since inspired similar processes worldwide.
