Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Does the Taoiseach not know well that the Minister sought to discuss this matter with the Opposition spokespersons at the same time as he issued a statement to the press announcing the referendum? I do not know what the pretence about mystery is because that was the discussion that took place. I do not know why we must listen to people hedging by saying the Taoiseach does not know what the Minister did. I suspect that the Taoiseach knows well what the Minister is doing and the Minister knows why the Taoiseach wants him to do it.

Is it not the case that the Government Whip has instructed that the referendum Bill be taken in the week after Easter? Will the Taoiseach deny that? Is it the case that the legislation will be brought to the House in time for a poll on 11 June in accordance with the advice of the Taoiseach's American guru? Why was the question of land, for example, side-tracked to a constitutional committee for two and a half years but the Government has suddenly discovered this issue in advance of the local and European elections?

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