Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The preparation is quite advanced. Of course, we have to rely on the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the work on the electoral commission that is required for the referendum, but that can be done. I am confident that if we choose to do this in the autumn, it will be possible to do it in the autumn, but I think we need to make a wise political decision as to when we are most likely to get it passed and when we will have an electorate that wants to hear and understand the detail of what we are asking of them. What I am saying is that we may hold this in the autumn - that has not been finally decided by Government yet - but I think the more likely date is to hold it this time next year at the same time as the local and European elections.

By the way, I can see the Deputy is impatient to get this done. As to the setting up of this court, whether we get this referendum passed in the late autumn or in the spring of next year does not make a huge difference. As long as we get it passed, we can then move quickly with the legislation on the setting up of the court. Either way, it is going to take some time to get that done.

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