Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

That report is complete speculation. As I have said before in the House, we need to consider, as a Parliament, the process by which we hold referenda in view of the fact two referenda were held together with the presidential election on the last occasion. When it is held, the referendum in respect of the fiscal stability treaty will be held on its own. Obviously, the Government is very clear that we have to hold two other referenda outside the framework of the constitutional convention, that is, the referendum on child protection and the referendum on the abolition of the Seanad. In respect of the latter, I will bring a memorandum to Government in due course. As I said, I have not fixed a timeframe for either the Seanad referendum or the referendum on child protection. Both of these are matters we have to get right. I will let the House know when Government will deal with the memorandum in respect of the proposal to ask the people for the abolition of the Seanad.

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