Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

As Deputy Ross will be aware, there was no referendum being contemplated when the question raised by the troika was undertaken, which was, to do a paper in respect of the possibilities of flexibility on this promissory note. There was no referendum in train or being considered at that stage. That work was under way when the Attorney General, quite properly, gave her formal legal advice to the Government and the Government proceeded to act on the consequences of that. The process being set in train for the referendum, that is, the preparation of the referendum Bill, the appointment of a referendum commission and a person to chair that, the publication of the issues to be legislated for in a fiscal responsibility Bill, must be all put in place.

I genuinely want to see a rational discussion about the importance of the referendum on this treaty in order that every person in the country understands its importance for our future in as complete a way as can be explained.

I do not speak for M. Hollande. I know he has stated that if he were elected he would renegotiate the treaty. He is as much aware as anybody else that this treaty has been already agreed by 25 of the 27 countries, it must be ratified and the ratification process is under way. I cannot speak for the French electorate as to what it will do in the presidential election and I cannot say what efforts he, if he were to be elected, could make in respect of renegotiating the treaty. I pointed out that this was agreed by the French Government, as one of 25 countries of the 27. We move on, having signed it, to the process of ratification, which is different from one country to the next and which will involve a referendum here. That election takes place on 6 May and, obviously, the French people will make their own decision.

We need to make clear decisions about the process here. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Gilmore, who wrote to the Attorney General on behalf of the Government because it is a matter of intergovernmental treaties, will bring a memo to Cabinet, probably next week. Deputy Ross will have further opportunity to see the precise timelines. As I say, it must be either before the summer or after the summer. We do not want it to be too short, where people would not have the opportunity to have this explained to them and have their say, and to fully understand it.

For my part, I see the importance of this being given a very strong "Yes" support for the future of our country and for the future of our people. In due course, when we decide on the time, we will explain how important it is for everybody.

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