Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

A question beginning to arise in the course of the European election campaign is when the Government expects to hold the referendum on the Lisbon treaty. Will the Taoiseach give us some certainty on this issue by identifying a time within two or three weeks of the proposed date? Will it be the end of September or October? We will have to decide on this and the sooner we know for certain when it will be the better so that we can sequentially follow a list of issues that we have discussed before to ensure that people are properly and fully informed as to the content of the treaty.

I note the comment of the Minister for Finance that it may be necessary to recall the House to discuss the proposed legislation to set up the National Asset Management Agency. The Minister should for practical reasons be able to tell when that is likely to be. Will it be in July or August? I expect that people in the House have made vacation arrangements and I hope they all take their vacations in the country. Has a date been proposed for the Minister for Finance to present the Bill to the House?

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