Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I will be very brief. I would like to ask about the proposed referendum on child protection. As the leader of his party and the deputy leader of the Government, does the Tánaiste share the view on the referendum that has been expressed by various parties? There are no political difficulties or divisions in respect of the issues of absolute defence and soft information, which have been considered in detail by the committee. Does the Tánaiste think the obvious difficulties in that regard could be dealt with at an early date? Does he agree the issues of children's rights and welfare, which are the subject of confused or incomplete debate, could be dealt with at a later stage? Why are the two questions being rolled into one? As the leader of his party and the deputy leader of the Government, what is the Tánaiste's view on that? I ask him to comment on the matter.

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