Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Your apologies are accepted, a Cheann Comhairle, and noted for posterity. I take it from the responses the Taoiseach has already given that he is not now intent on proceeding with a referendum on the draft EU constitution in advance of the next general election and take it, therefore, that he agrees with the recent statement from EU Commission President Barroso who said that, "in all probability, at least for the next two or three years, we will not have a constitution". Does the Taoiseach welcome that statement, as I do?

The 2001 report of the task force on autism recommended that urgent attention should be paid by the Government to the need for appropriate constitutional reform to provide clearer provision for the rights of persons with disabilities to education and to provide a more solid base for advanced legislation in this field. Has the Taoiseach picked up on that recommendation from the task force report in 2001? Has it been considered at any time by the Cabinet? Does he have plans to provide for greater constitutional protection for people with disabilities in general given that there is great disappointment at the failure of the recent Disability Bill to address the rights of people with disabilities across all the areas?

The Taoiseach referred to Seanad reform. Will the Government bring forward, whether by referendum during its lifetime, a package of constitutional changes to provide for Seanad reform along the lines of directly elected members on a list system with voting rights being provided for citizens in the Six Counties and Irish citizens overseas?

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