Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I have answered most of those questions, but I do not know what Deputy Rabbitte meant when he said that when I engaged in constitutional issues during the period of my leadership, it was not what it seemed. When a Government of which he was a part tried to pass its only major proposal, namely the divorce referendum, I brought my whole party behind it to make sure it was passed. The Deputy knows that it would not have been passed otherwise. For the Good Friday Agreement, I dealt even-handedly with the Opposition during the negotiations. The only referendum with which we had problems was one in which the Deputy's own party had a difficulty with a judicial issue, so I dropped that aspect from it. At every stage in my time as leader, I played it absolutely even-handedly, so Deputy Rabbitte's comment is unfair.

I was under considerable pressure last year from a range of organisations to deal with the issue that arose from what happened in early June. We have attempted to do that, but it is not the end of the world whether we get it finished by March. If I did not bring it to a stage whereby the whole thing was ready, Deputy Rabbitte and others would say that I did nothing. Given that the lifetime of this Dáil ends in the summer, I want to complete the work and I will get to a stage where there is broad agreement on this issue inside and outside the House, including among the children's bodies. There is one children's body that is trying to create difficulties around this, but all of the others have taken a different view. If it is not possible to get broad political agreement, then we will leave it until later, but if there is agreement, then we can have the referendum. There is no great difficulty about this. Religious, medical and social organisations all have an interest in this issue and would like to see it dealt with.

The Deputy is correct to state that there will always be difficulties. I have often been asked why we do not have a referendum for different issues when there is all-party agreement, but I have always answered that there is no such thing as a simple change to the Constitution. It is certain that somebody will take an opposing view. People will see problems where none exist, but I suppose it is unfair to suggest that they invent problems.

The Minister of State, Deputy Lenihan, has his views but he is open to debate this issue. That is a fair way to proceed. If we cannot deal with the issue in March or early April, then the House will have to deal with it in the life of a new Dáil. I will not say that the parties do not have the time or do not wish to consult for whatever reason. I will not use the majority in the House to get this through. I have not done that in the past. I pulled a referendum late in the day on another occasion just to accommodate the Labour Party. We can come to a view with the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, who is available. The Government and the administrative system will be ready this week to move on. If it is not possible to do that, we can hold it in abeyance and take it forward on the other side of the general election. The House will not be able to avoid having to deal with this issue in 2007. It is needed for many reasons — I am sure the Deputy has been meeting the various groups, just as I have. There are many reasons we should not delay it unduly. I think that is a reasonable approach.

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