Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I support the call initiated by Senator van Turnhout that the issue of the lack of public information on the forthcoming referenda be addressed. It is fair to say most people know of the holding of the presidential election on Thursday fortnight but the vast majority is blissfully unaware of the fact that, on the same day, two important referenda will take place. While we have pushed through the House the legislation for the holding of the referenda, I ask the Leader to allow us to use this House next week, given the following week would be too late, as a vehicle for further debate on these important referenda.

The Referendum Commission is doing its job as it is prescribed to do. However, some of my colleagues may recall that eight or ten years ago the Referendum Commission did its job in a different fashion, and we complained at the time that there was an overkill of information and that every householder was presented with the referendum issue on a "for" and "against" basis. The Referendum Commission now appears to work in a more minimalist fashion. Although it will perhaps require the work of the CPP and Standing Orders to be reflected upon, is it possible that we would allow a debate in the House next week where both sides of the arguments can be presented? There is a lack of public information and it is quite dangerous that the referenda will bring about profound change to the Constitution, particularly from the perspective of the powers of Members of the-----