Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Since we are dealing with the amendments on the Schedule, I should indicate, and Deputy Madigan is going to come back, that in reference to the good point made by Deputy Jack Chambers, it may be appropriate to put down an amendment on Report Stage to remove the word "and" so that it reads "separate or apart from one another for a period of years". The Minister of State has a concern that this could pass very quickly through the Oireachtas and the Government would then find itself holding a referendum. That is a legitimate political concern but I am sure Deputy Madigan, members of this committee and others in the House can time it such that it is not dropped on the Government's plate. I suppose we are in a difficult position. Nobody is certain when the next general election will be. If it must be within 30 or 90 days, we will not be able to do in time for a general election because the general election will be 28 days from a dissolution.

There will be general support for this. I do not know the reason behind the Government saying that it must revamp the whole thing. This is no criticism of the Minister of State but I suspect that it might be just a means of delaying this. I am not saying the Minister of State would ever contemplate doing something like that but it just may be a means of getting it off the Government's plate for the time being. I think the Government is better off liaising with us. We should put it through committee. I am sure Deputy Madigan will be considerate as to when it comes back on Report Stage. We could try to agree a date. There will probably be another referendum happening, so that raises the prospect of two of them on the one day. I do not know if that would appeal to people.