Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Did the Tánaiste state that the Government has not decided on a date for the referendum on the EU treaty? If that is the case, is it still the intention to hold the referendum this side of the summer? There was some discussion on a television programme last night that the date might perhaps be postponed until the autumn.

Will the Tánaiste indicate whether the referendum will be held before the summer and its approximate timing?

The data retention directive is, I understand, due to come into effect this month. Under this legislation, the records of e-mails, Internet chat messages and the times at which people log on and off the Internet are to be stored for a period of three years. It is a controversial measure which impacts on privacy and so forth. Is it intended to transpose the directive by way of statutory instrument or, as the Labour Party would prefer, primary legislation which would afford the House an opportunity to debate this controversial matter?

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