Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The Taoiseach has already lined up three items for possible referenda. In all seriousness therefore, if he is going to have a referendum in 2010 he must have his mind settled now as to whether or not it will happen. He should tell the House. He knows well how people respond when a referendum is sprung on them and run at short notice. If there is going to be a referendum in 2010 on any of these matters he should tell us.

The electoral commission is in the programme for Government. I hate to remind the Taoiseadh that he is well into the second half of the life of the Government. If he is ever going to do anything about the electoral commission and is serious about it, he will establish it at some time. When was the renewed programme for Government finalised?

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