Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

My senior Minister made it quite clear last night, as I will do again, that the Government is placing this matter under active consideration. There have been substantial discussions at Cabinet level on this matter and between myself, the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and my senior Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern. As the Taoiseach indicated this morning on radio and as my senior Minister did last night, we will be in a position to put a timeframe in place ahead of the millennium summit in September. That is an absolute commitment by this Government.

I am very proud of the motion the Green Party has tabled, which we welcome. I do not believe there is a substantial difference between the motion and our amendment.

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