Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

Time is of the essence and the Government is like a patient facing the end and in a panic about several issues that it has not dealt with and must cram in. The Taoiseach mentioned seven issues, of which there are difficulties with two. That does not mean seven separate questions. There are two questions, one of which will encompass a range of those issues.

There are seven weeks to Easter, one of which is taken up with the ministerial diaspora at St. Patrick's Day. In the meantime the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has published legislation that, even by his standards of hyperbole, has profound implications although not in the way the Minister expects. How is it possible to do justice to the wide-ranging discussion that should take place? It is not possible to hold the referendum before Easter. How is it possible to hold a public discussion, allowing the people to analyse what is proposed, and undertake a serious campaign before the Dáil is dissolved and a general election called? Should the Taoiseach state that it is not possible and adopt a more realistic timescale? All these issues can be more satisfactorily discussed at a later period, no matter who is in Government.

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