Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The working assumption arising from the December summit and the Taoiseach's report from it was that work would proceed on the drafting of the various declarations and statements. That work would be concluded, it would go to the June summit and then there would be another referendum in the autumn. To be fair, the Taoiseach has not committed himself to that timetable but that is the working assumption. On two or three occasions in response to Deputy Kenny and Deputy Ó Caoláin, the Taoiseach indicated that work on the various statements and guarantees might be completed before June. If that is the case, is there a mechanism by which they could be agreed by the European Council and would go to referendum on the same dates as the local and European elections?

What is happening with the drafting of those documents? The Taoiseach stated work is under way and Deputy Kenny mentioned the discussions that took place around the time of the December summit with Fine Gael and the Labour Party. Will we be involved in discussions about the drafting of those documents? What progress has been made with the drafting?

See this speech in context