Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The property services regulatory authority Bill is to provide for the establishment of the property services regulatory authority to give full effect to the report of the auctioneering and estate agency review group. It is on the list of promised legislation and it is due this year.

The voluntary health legislation is on the list. In reply to Deputy Joe Higgins, I stated that the Government is awaiting its legal advice on the various issues. I have no further word until the process I outlined is completed.

I stated the Government's position on the referendum today. The Government has finalised its position, subject to the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan's discussions. It would be ridiculous for the Government to sign off on it and then have a consultation process. This would be the wrong procedure. We will wait for the discussions to take place before we come to a final position, which is the only fair way to ask for meaningful consultation.

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