Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy might say that was then and this is now, but it is a fact that the Attorney General is not answerable to this House and Ministers are not answerable for the Attorney General's advice. The Attorney General is the legal adviser to the Government.

What was agreed at St. Andrew's was a political document. The document was whittled out after two and a half days of intensive discussions. Of course, the Attorney General was aware of the contents as they were evolving. I and the Taoiseach, on separate occasions and together, as well as the Tánaiste, were in contact with the Attorney General's office and the Attorney General personally regarding the ongoing discussions. It is only a political document.

Only when the Attorney General sees the colour of the legislation that is proposed by the British and flows from this agreement can he make a determination as to whether a referendum is required on an amendment to an international agreement. Parties on the other side of the House would be the first to complain if the Government proceeded to make fundamental changes to the Good Friday Agreement. We will not do this off the tops of our heads or, as some people snidely remarked, for partisan reasons. We will do it based on the advice of the Attorney General and nothing else. If the Attorney General advises that a referendum should be held in the South, we will hold one irrespective——

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