Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

The Taoiseach should also move speedily to clarify the timeframe for this referendum.

Will he give a solemn undertaking to this Dáil and to the citizens of this State that he will abide by whatever outcome is reached? Is gá go ndéanfadh an Rialtas díospóireacht mhácanta, agus gan na vótairí a mhisniú chun vótáil i gcoinne an chonartha.

This week when the Taoiseach goes to Brussels, he should tell his European counterparts he will respect the outcome of this referendum and expects them to do the same. This time we can have a real debate not like in the second Nice treaty referendum and, in particular, the second Lisbon treaty referendum. In that referendum Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour bullied and sought to scare the electorate. It was claimed a vote against the Lisbon treaty would weaken our position in the European Union while a vote for the treaty was a vote for jobs and growth. Where are those jobs now? Where is the growth and prosperity?

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