Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

As the Green Party has given the Government some extra time in January, would the Taoiseach agree to take this Bill on board so that when a general election takes place on this simple and straightforward issue, about which there would be no public controversy - we can hold a referendum to coincide with the general election? This would ensure the Judiciary is not perceived as an elite apart from the public sector wage reductions that have occurred. Will the Taoiseach take on board this Bill and allow its enactment? Will he make Government time available for its enactment during the first week we come back and when the Dáil sits again, if the finance Bill is not available to take at that point?

Before the Dáil closes this session, will the Government publish the new, apparently promised, wording, on which it is now working, for a referendum on children's rights in circumstances in which, apparently, the Government is not willing to take on board the proposals of the Joint Oireachtas Committee? If we do not have the wording before the Dáil ends this week, will we have it before we get to the end of this year?

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