Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

I suggest that nobody questions for a second that the decision on what happens in Ireland will be taken by the Government. What is unclear, however, is the matter of the referendum. I thought the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs said there would be a referendum in Ireland and that they made that statement after the Dutch and French decisions. Will the Minister of State clarify that? I suggest it would be too much to express unanimity after the forthcoming Council meeting as some governments will want to hold a referendum, others will be less enthusiastic and some will be against it.

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