Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

In regard to the latter matter mentioned by the Deputy referred, the programme for Government states clearly that a referendum will be held on abolition of the Seanad. I will certainly give him a timeline but I want to be clear that it can be adhered to. This is why I have not set out dates or months. The legislation on child protection has to pass through the Houses and, as he will be aware, the all-party committee went from a position of broad difference to one of agreement on a form of wording that was rejected by the then Attorney General. It is not an issue on which one can say "I expect to have this by date X" and then discover that people cannot agree on sensitive issues.

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