Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The reason I asked the question is that the issues pertaining to a children's referendum are serious and people from different strands of society may wish to articulate on them. When one mixes this matter up with a presidential election there is a great danger the accusation could be made that the issues are being squeezed and are without full articulation in regard to a proposed amendment to the Constitution. I do not say that is the Taoiseach's intention. In terms of good practice, unless the amendment to the Constitution is completely harmless, namely, without contention, generally speaking where there are substantive amendments to the Constitution with substantive issues involved the matter should be separate from any other. That great danger is present. Various groups will try to be helpful to Government and say they will work with it to have the matter ready for November. However, it does not have to be in November but could be before then if the Government were to agree a proposal in terms of wording, and so on.

That has always been my position. Different Governments have held such referendums on the same days as other matters but I have always had concerns about that in terms of the democracy aspect.

See this speech in context