Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Queen’s University, Belfast this morning
This morning.
At Queen’s University in Belfast.
Leo Varadkar gave a speech during his first official visit to Northern Ireland since becoming Taoiseach.
After giving a speech he agreed to take questions from the floor.
One woman (second from the right pictured above) asked Mr Varadkar:
“Taoiseach, on the topic of North/South relations, we know that students from the Republic of Ireland study here and vice versa. Students have a very proud history of advocating social justice issues, as seen in the marriage equality referendum on May 22, 2015 – something you are a strong advocate for north and south of the border and we thank you for your solidarity at Belfast Pride tomorrow.
“Recently you announced your intention to run various referenda over the next 18 months beginning in June or July. The referendum on the 8th amendment is especially pertinent for students north and south of the border.
“As we all know a high percentage of students travel or work abroad over the summer. Do you agree with us that, in order to fully engage students, this referendum should be held outside of the summer months?”
Mr Varadkar replied:
“Thanks very much. It’s a good question, I haven’t been asked that one yet. It is, we have a process that we’ve agreed involving a Citizens’ Assembly, involving a Oireachtas all-party parliamentary committee but what we’re planning for is a referendum probably May or June of next year.
“It’s not as straightforward as just having a referendum, we have to have wording legislation, a referendum commission and a campaign. So, if we don’t have it before the summer then it’ll probably not happen until the latter part of the year.
“So we haven’t set a date yet. We have had referendums in June before. I think the Good Friday Agreement was a June referendum, if I remember correctly. So was the Fiscal Treaty and we’ve had elections in June as well.
“But I definitely take the point and get the message that younger people would like to have the referendum happen at a time when they’re in the country so that they can fully participate. So we will absolutely take that into account in setting a date.”
Watch back in full here
Pic via Queen’s University
Yes and why can’t they have referendums and elections on a Saturday which would save closing hundreds of schools to use as polling stations and also students would be home from college at weekends to vote. It’s very likely FF and FG are afraid of the student/young persons vote are they are relying on the grey vote to keep them in power.
+1
those lazy teachers don’t need another blooming day off work.
“So we haven’t set a date yet. We have had referendums in June before.”
If any bookies are reading and want to open a book on whether this happens in June or not, you have my money.
Nice and Lisbon were both rejected (first time around) in June, so it’s maybe not the worst time.
Never mind that. Yer one on the left in the Repeal shirt is clearly a vampire.
That’s what I thought. Do the undead get a vote?
Only the pre dead.
Love them both.
You’re funny Daisy, one of the good ones.
I expect newbrainsjustin will pop up to say now what the feck, how come Daisy gets to make an inappropriate abortion-related joke and I don’t? NOT FAIR! I’M A SNOWFLAKE! WAH WAHAH WHAH
I thankyou!!
This is Daisy’s comment just yesterday on people complaining about a joke on RTE:
Daisy Chainsaw
August 3, 2017 at 2:11 pm
The perpetually offended looking for notice again!
Before complaining today about a joke on here.
Now that’s funny.
NOT FAIR! I’M A SNOWFLAKE! WAH WAHAH WHAH
Poor newsjustin. Boo Hoo.
Nice try Daisy.
fabulous ‘mixed’ front row, even got the ginge in.
…David Quinn furiously starts pushing for a referendum during college exams…
It’s as if nobody is ever out of the country the rest of the year.
That’s rather disingenuous and I think you know it.
It’s my hot take on the matter!
It’d be interesting to see some stats on the matter. I guess any of the summer months will see people away on holidays.
You’d guess? Come on, man.
People will have to abort their holliers if they want to abort their toddlers!
What a classy thing to say.
All that matters is it rhymes. It should be read in the style of a radio jingle.
It’s a Friday. Chill
?
You’re really despicable,
Yourself Clampers and Nigel plummet the depths here every day.
It’s a rather oddly crass ‘joke’ for an anti abortion guy to make but whatever works for you.
Aborting toddlers? FFS. You’re an idiot.
Chillax, everyone! It’s ok to make abortion jokes on Fridays.
Have a slice of chill cake.
Drinking too much of the “loveboth” koolaid, where they equate first trimester foetuses with freediving toddlers and electrocuted preschoolers
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DGEpKZGXcAAxzXy.jpg -11 week gestation
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DFv-1sBXYAAbxEV.jpg – 8 week gestation!
Toddlers rhymes with holiers Daisy!
And what’s wrong with making jokes about abortion?
How do you pronounce holiers? Or toddlers? I’ve never heard them rhyme
I knew it! I pre-empted this comment by minutes! See above! It’s a like a robotic dog!
If anyone here known to be pro-choice made that silly gag they’d get a few lols and no big deal.
But someone who holds a different point of view gets the 3rd degree.
You’re right, nothing. Going to mass this weekend? Are you going to bring along any impressionable 12 year old boys to put in the church collection plate for your priest to enjoy in his child sex dungeon?
Ah, now. That’s a desperate joke. A few lols, my hoop.
“But someone who holds a different point of view”
No, someone with *your* point of view. What you did was make out that people you are arguing with are sociopathic monsters who’d gladly murder their child on a whim. Friends & family members slag each other off all the time, if a STRANGER came along and slagged off your da/brother/best pal, it would be a different story. You were laughing AT people, not WITH them. Do you understand?
Nice one Accountant!
Strangers on the internet…..whatever next?
Not strangers on the internet, strangers in general. If an English person covered in Rule Britannia kind of tattoos made a joke about Irish people being stupid drunks, you’d probably react differently to an Irish person making it.
I wasn’t trying to make fun of you or pto-choice people in general. It was just a good rhyme. Now I know how poor John Moynes feels with his limericks.
I thought it was funny.
Good man Nigel
What a poo you are
this is such utter horsepoo
establishment will hold the vote at most favourable time (and place) for the establishment
repealers will have to make the same sort of effort as the marriage equality vote if they are to succeed
Government will want their referendum to pass, same as the ssm referendum.
They were behind the marriage equality one. They are against the abortion one.
So a Wednesday in July it is, then.
That Repeal jumper is soon becoming this generation’s, “Who Shot JR” top.
Friend of mine wears one during her time of the month to avoid fruitless advances
Fantastic! :D
I’m sure that’s what she tells herself anyway
Like a girl I was out with who told me her wedding ring meant men were attracted to her like bees to honey.
Except for that night, though.
I question her claim that students are abroad during the summer.
Sure aren’t Students always claiming every other week on the wireless that they’re broke and have no money and need more handouts and freebees and cheesey fries.
Yes. And they also get together to laugh at you behind your back.
and they never stop smoking hash and riding
Autumn, after the RC Popes fecking visit…
Ellen Coyne tweeting that the taoiseach has now committee to holding it earlier
https://twitter.com/ellenmcoyne/status/893490786628775937
REPEAL is soooo 2016.
Frankie Says.