The chairman of the Constitutional Convention says he believes it has been a success.

The group publishes its report today after 18 months assessing eight different issues thought to be at the heart of modernising Ireland's constitution.

So far, the government has committed to holding three referendums relating to the work of the convention, specifically on on same sex marriage, lowering the voting age and reducing the age of candidacy for Presidential candidates.

The convention also recommended future consideration of Seanad reform, and right to die issues.

Chairman Tom Arnold believes the process went well, despite the reservations of some people "It started off perhaps with low expectations and we got through our work well. The combination of citizens and politicians worked a lot better than many people expected and I think we've come up with quite balanced and sensible recommendations".

Newstalk's Pat Kenny asked Mr Arnold to respond to criticisms levelled at the Constitutional Convention by Senator John Crown on Newstalk's earlier Breakfast show:

A forum of 100 parliamentarians and members of the public sat on the Constitutional Convention

A colossal wasted opportunity

Senator John Crown called it ''a colossal wasted opportunity”.

Senator Crown told Newstalk the convention failed to effectively deal with the constitutional problems that led to economic collapse after the Celtic Tiger. He believes the process was doomed to fail because of the inclusion of participants with vested interests in the status quo being maintained.

John Crown has also criticised our history of appointing what he has called 'inexpert Cabinets', calling for a move to allow the appointment of people from outside parliament to the rank of minister.