Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Higgins missed the point. Most of these issues have been discussed ad nauseam. I have been involved in referendum campaigns where public attention was not caught until the campaign was almost over. Those who are interested, including NGOs, professionals and those who have discussed the legal cases, in particular the last one which has been discussed in great detail for the past eight months, have fixed views on it. It is a question of whether we can finalise our work. We should finalise our work, and if it is possible to have a referendum we should have it. Otherwise we will have to return to it. The issues will not change because of a general election. If the Deputy believes people need six months to discuss these matters and will be intrigued by them, that is not the way the world works.

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