Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

When the Taoiseach tells the House he is serious about having a referendum passed for the good of all children, in particular, is he considering that there could be a need to make some budgetary provision for it? Additional moneys are needed to address classroom sizes, for example. A significant number of people are waiting to get into schools in many constituencies. Is the Taoiseach conscious of the import of the referendum, in so far as it will put an onus on the Government to deliver certain things? It cannot simply be seen as wishful thinking, in terms of the rights which the referendum will clarify. Has that been part of the discussions to date?

I would like to conclude by asking about something that was raised the last time the House considered this question. I refer to the All-Party Committee on the Constitution, which the Taoiseach mentioned. Is it now clear that the implementation of the recommendations of the Kenny report will not require a referendum? The Taoiseach mentioned in his reply to me the last time we spoke about this matter that the Bill to give effect to those recommendations was being drafted. Can the Taoiseach give the House a report on the progress that is being made?

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