of power-sharing in the north. 14 January – The Citizens' Assembly recommended a ban on anonymous donations to political parties and campaign groups, weekend voting and lowering the voting age to 16. 15 January – Gardaí announced that they are to conduct a review into the death of a baby whose body was found on a beach at Cahersiveen in County Kerry 33 years ago. 16 January – Gardaí apologised to Joanne Hayes for the stress and pain she was put through as part of the original investigation into the murder of 'Baby John' in Kerry in 1984. 17 January Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that the European Union is at a decisive point in its future when he addressed MEPs in the European Parliament in the first of a series of debates between EU government leaders and MEPs on the future of the EU. Opening statements on the Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution were made in the Dáil, with Minister for Health Simon Harris describing the commencement of the debate as an historic one. 18 January Minister for Transport Shane Ross accidentally voted against his own Road Traffic Bill in the Dáil. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin announces his support for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment. 20 January – Mary Lou McDonald was confirmed as Sinn Féin's President-elect by Gerry Adams at a meeting of the party Ard Comhairle and its Northern region organisation in Belfast. She was he only candidate for the leadership. 25 January – The Dáil passed legislation to allow the sale of alcohol on Good Friday for the first time in over 90 years. 27 January – Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that he will be campaigning for more liberal abortion laws in the forthcoming referendum on the repeal of the Eighth Amendment. 29 January It was announced that Michelle O'Neill is to be the new deputy leader of Sinn Féin after it was confirmed she was the only candidate nominated for the post. The Cabinet gave formal approval to the holding of a referendum on the Eighth Amendment. February 3 February – Brexit supporter Nigel Farage said at a Dublin conference that there was "a gap in the political market" in Ireland for a party to push for an Irish exit from the European Union. 5 February – More than 30 homes in 12 counties were searched as