Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am substituting for Senator Higgins who cannot be here today, but we have spoken beforehand about the contribution. Going through the Minister's contribution relating to the Citizens' Assembly recommendations, there is reference to potentially meaning a referendum. There is a lack of clarity about the Taoiseach deciding whether there will be a referendum. I am following on from the Chair, who said it is not a rehashing of the why and this and that, but actually a follow-on implementation piece. In that regard, the citizens were very clear that there should be constitutional change and their first three recommendations all relate to what proposals for constitutional change should be put to the public in a referendum or referenda. That is the topic we are discussing today. I am wondering about the use of words such as "potentially". What work is ongoing? Is it clear that a referendum will happen next year and that it is not a potential for a referendum next year? I refer to the linguistics in the contribution.