Queen’s University research has helped shape the democratic decision-making process in the Republic of Ireland on the highly sensitive issue of abortion provision.
Research Challenge
A SENSITIVE AND CONTENTIOUS ISSUE
Two core features of a well-functioning citizens’ assembly are high quality consideration and deliberation of a policy issue by participants, and a fair and balanced measurement of the participants’ policy recommendations. Queen’s University’s Professor John Garry along with a wider research team from the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics were able to provide the Irish Citizens’ Assembly with appropriate high-quality evidence-based advice as a result of their research on political deliberation and attitude measurement.
Our Approach
AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH
The research team have systematically examined the process of citizen deliberation on a range of political topics in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Specifically, the team studied how participants can be effectively provided with: relevant information on a topic; balanced sets of arguments in favour or against particular proposals; and the opportunity to engage in a considered way with a wide range of other participants who hold diverse views and perspectives.
The team also conducted many studies which have systematically examined citizens’ social and political attitudes, and policy preferences, on sensitive topics (including abortion) in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The studies have been based on the careful and objective measurement of citizens’ views using specially designed questionnaires and surveys.
“I have been struck recently by the Irish example of a Citizens’ Assembly to help find consensus on issues where people have sharply divided opinions. Of course, the circumstances here are different, as are the issues under consideration. But the principle is a sound one and I believe we should make use of it. .”
- Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister
What impact did it make?
IMPACT BEYOND IRELAND
The Irish Citizens’ Assembly recommended a liberalisation of Irish abortion law, and this was subsequently supported in a binding referendum vote in May 2018. The Scottish Government has since established its own Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland which was inspired by the Irish model.
Our impact
Impact related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Queen’s University’s commitment to nurturing a culture of sustainability and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through research and education.
