Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

On legislation, a referendum commission was established by law to provide information to the public on the Lisbon treaty last summer and it produced its report recently, in which it complained strongly that it had only three weeks to conduct research and provide a draft of a leaflet for distribution to the citizenry. It stated that it needed in the region of five months to do its business properly. I am not sure whether the Minister can indicate the date the second referendum on the treaty will take place but, no matter when it is held, it is time to think about establishing the new referendum commission by law, as is required. What plans has the Government in that respect?

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