Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The Constitution is the type of issue that can be adequately dealt with in a minute. I will be brief. On 14 June, the Taoiseach stated in the House: "We do not have a plan at this stage to have a constitutional referendum in the lifetime of this Dáil." Is this still his intention? Do I understand him to have said that he does not believe that a referendum will arise from the St. Andrews Agreement, but that he cannot be absolutely certain? Do I understand him to have said that we have a long way to go before we have a referendum on the rights of the child and that it is not likely to be held before the election?

Is there any other matter in respect of which we are likely to have a referendum before the election? I am sure the Taoiseach was right when he stated he was sure the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, has all of this worked out and has an amendment in his head, but does he agree that if the Minister of State has an amendment in his head, he has kept it a secret? Does the Minister of State intend to let the House in on the secret? I ask for clarity as to whether the Taoiseach intends to hold the referendum on the rights of the child before the election. Most, if not all, in the House are favourably disposed to the principle but it seems from the Taoiseach's statement at the weekend of his party's Ard-Fheis that he has not really thought through the many complexities involved in such a prospect being hurried.

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