Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Can we anticipate a referendum regarding matters arising from the Abbeylara judgment? Does the Taoiseach accept that we cannot continue to inquire into every matter of public interest by relying on the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921? Is it appropriate that we put in place a cheaper, speedier, more efficient way of disposing of some of these matters?

Is it not the case that the Supreme Court struck down Abbeylara in specific circumstances relating to imputations against character that might arise in the grave matter of what may have been unlawful killing and that that is not appropriate to this House? However, most matters that arise pertaining to the spending of public money would be appropriate to this House, and, as the DIRT inquiry showed, can be dealt with by one of its committees. Does the Taoiseach intend to hold a referendum to that effect? Why did the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, apparently promise that in the wake of various eruptions regarding the Flood tribunal only for it seemingly to go to ground with no sign of anything emerging now?

Did the All-Party Committee on the Constitution find that there is no constitutional impediment to the Government intervening to deal with the price of building land, which is driving the cost of housing out of the reach of most average earners? In those circumstances, is it the intention of the Government to legislate and may we anticipate such legislation at an early date given that a further increase in the price of houses of the order of 13% was recorded last year?

In light of the facts that this discussion recurs every few months at Question Time, the rainbow Government commissioned a report under Mr. Ken Whitaker in 1996 and the All-Party Committee on the Constitution has reported five or six times since then, to where is all this work leading? When I discussed this matter with the Taoiseach some months ago, he told me he would be clearer on it in the new year. Where is all the work on the Constitution going? Are we likely to have a referendum on a new Constitution at some stage or will we approach the issue on a piecemeal basis? Is it likely that any of the issues that have been the subject of recommendation by the all-party committee will be addressed?

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