Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I understand where the Deputy is coming from. The nature of his question is on how the Government intends to proceed. It intends to draft the legislation that is required for the three referendums to be held in October and once that drafting has been completed, to consult with the Opposition leaders fully and completely about the Bills in question. This is how the Government intends to proceed. In respect of the referendum on children's rights, the Deputy will recall that before he entered this House, there was a great deal of discussion about this issue. An Oireachtas committee performed very valuable work and produced an agreed wording. The previous Attorney General did not agree with that wording and recommended changes. This means, to be fair about this because it is such a sensitive and complex matter, that it will not be possible to have it decided in October of this year, together with the other referendums. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is now dealing with this matter and is working with the Attorney General. That referendum will be held next year. We want to get it absolutely right because there are very complex arguments on either side. While the Oireachtas committee produced an agreed wording this was not acceptable to the then Attorney General leading to a limbo which must be dealt with.

The Deputy can be assured that there is no question of there being a secret agenda because this is in the interests of everyone in the country. As soon as we get to a point where there is a conclusion on the wording and the Bill is drafted, there will be consultation with the Opposition. There is no point in Deputy Adams and I having three months' discussion about something that has already been discussed interminably. We need to arrive at a conclusion on what can and should be put to the people and this is our focus.

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