The failure of the economic recovery in Ireland to deliver for the needs of working-class people is becoming increasingly clear, if anything living standards are worsening.

The Citizens’ Assembly on abortion rights was set up under pressure from the Repeal movement. It surprised the conservative Dail when it recommended that women and pregnant people be trusted - that abortion should be legalised upon request up to 12 weeks; for socio-economic reasons up to 22 weeks; for health; and for fatal foetal abnormality.

The Citizens’ Assembly was established, not only as a government and political establishment delay-tactic in dealing with the 8th amendment, the consitutional abortion ban, but also quite clearly to manoevre to ensure that only limited change would be endorsed. It aimed to give a cover to politicians and an excuse to hold back on the growing demand from below for ...