Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I welcome the publication of the Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, the purpose of which is to enable the State to ratify the Lisbon reform treaty. The convention is that there would usually be a two-week period of reflection for the Opposition. However, in view of the widespread concern that the House has not discussed this matter since the treaty was signed in Lisbon on 13 December, would it be possible to introduce the Bill on Wednesday or Thursday next in order that the debate on it might commence prior to the two-week Easter recess?

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