Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I told the Deputy yesterday that I would give consideration to the inclusion of someone from Northern Ireland in the constitutional convention. As he knows, the convention will not be the final determinant of what will actually happen. It will be a convention at which citizens and others will give their views on a range of issues which I outlined to the House yesterday. Arising from any such report, the Government will consider how best to proceed with its recommendations. The terms of reference and make-up of the convention will be published as soon as I can get around to doing so.

With regard to the referendum on children's rights, to which the Government is committed to holding, I met all of the children's advocacy groups before the general election. A great deal of work was done by the all-party Oireachtas committee on children's rights and it came up with an agreed formula of words which was accepted. Subsequently, the Attorney General made a number of observations on the wording, with which the children's rights groups were disappointed. Having met them, I know they are of the view that it should be possible to reach agreement on a formula of words which could be put to the people in a referendum on the same date as the Presidential election. While I cannot confirm this, I am prepared to consider the matter. The Minister with responsibility for children will work intensively to find whether it would be possible.

The issue of judges is obviously one for a referendum. The Government will consider what is the best course to take in respect of a number of these issues. We must also give consideration to asking the people not only to consider the abolition of the Seanad but also the issue arising from the Abbeylara case. We would like authority to be given to specialised committees of the Dáil to carry out investigative work, with powers to compel attendance. The Deputy will be aware that the Oireachtas has been constrained due to a court decision in the matter.

For each of the referenda mentioned, a Bill will have to be produced and brought before the Dáil. The Government is working diligently to ascertain how quickly they can be produced.

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