Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The Taoiseach stated that there are three constitutional amendments in the pipeline, one of which is the constitutional amendment in respect of the protection of children, the details, content and nature of which will be decided following publication of the committee's third report. The second amendment relates to the establishment of a court of civil appeal and the third will seek to broaden the reference to the role of women in the home to one of the role of parents in the home. Will any of these referenda be held in 2010? The Taoiseach told the House yesterday that it is intended there will be an election for a Lord Mayor of Dublin in 2010. This means the best part of 30% of the electorate will go to the polls that day anyway. There are two by-elections imminent which cannot be postponed forever and in respect of which, presumably, people will also go to the polls. Will the opportunity of people going to the polls in 2010 be availed of to hold one or other or, perhaps, all of these referenda?

As regards the role of women and parents in the home, when does the Taoiseach expect the legislation to provide for the wording of that referendum to be presented to the House, given the specific promise in this regard in the renewed programme for Government? The programme for Government also refers to a fourth issue, namely, the establishment of an independent electoral commission to consider the extension of the franchise for presidential elections to the Irish abroad, to examine and make recommendations for changes in the electoral system for Dáil and Seanad elections, to consider changes in respect of European elections and to make recommendations on the possibility of extending the franchise for local elections to those aged 16 years or over. When will the independent electoral commission be established to consider these matters?

As regards the Taoiseach's reply to Deputy Ó Caoláin that arising from the structured dialogue with the Churches he anticipates a constitutional referendum in respect of matters relating to education-----

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