Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I want to press the Taoiseach in as positive a way as possible on the convention. People from the North make up one quarter of the population on the island of Ireland. Therefore, they should have one quarter of the representatives. I ask the Taoiseach to consider this. Will the Diaspora be invited to be part of the convention? We are talking about an opportunity to do many good things, reflect the views of the people on this island and the wider Diaspora, see how we are governed and the way in which our society should be built. I want to press this issue, as of right. We cannot talk to others in the North or the Brits who are reticent about aspects of the Good Friday Agreement when we ourselves do not, either in vision or practice, have an all-island or all-Ireland approach.

While the Taoiseach may not have the answer, there has been a rumour that the referenda might be held on the same date as the Presidential election. Will the Taoiseach clarify this point?

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