Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There could be referendums on many issues.

It was part of our manifesto in 2011 to have a big Constitution day on which we would have perhaps ten referenda on the same day. It would be exciting but could also be extremely confusing. I am not entirely sure where I fall on that matter. It demonstrates the extent to which our Constitution is in so many ways very much out of date. It was progressive in the 1937 but certainly is not any more. We need to press ahead with a series of referenda in the next year or two. The opportunity exists with the possibility of a presidential election next year and the certainty of local and European elections the year after to hold many of these referenda. For that reason, this legislation is very welcome and timely. I look forward to the rest of the debate.

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