Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Will the Minister confirm whether the Government is racked by confusion and indecision on this issue? Will he acknowledge that the child protection committee is not making progress because almost two years after the publication of its proposals to hold a referendum and to draft substantive legislation, the Government has not tabled any measure? Will he also acknowledge that achieving a consensus within a committee is impossible when the only substantive proposals before it have been made by Fine Gael and Sinn Féin? Will he explain to the House how the committee can, while waiting to deal with other issues another day, reach conclusions on the issue of providing an absolute zone of protection for children in the absence of the Government engaging in a discussion on the legislative basis and in circumstances in which the Government is apparently shifting its ground and is on the verge of determining not to hold a referendum?

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