Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I will stick with the issue of the referendum. We have the report from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children, which contains a proposed wording for the constitutional amendment. In these matters, the wording is the most difficult aspect, and much time and effort was put into this on an all-party basis. The legislation to allow for a referendum is straightforward once the wording is agreed. It is a standard Bill; we have had constitutional amendments here before.

The wording has been agreed and the legislation is simple. As Deputy Kenny has pointed out, money has been set aside to hold a referendum in 2010. Will we have this referendum in 2010? It is a simple question and the Taoiseach should be able to give a straight answer.

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