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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together.

The Government intends to hold a referendum next year on gender equality, as recommended by the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Gender Equality. The decision to hold one or more referendums on this issue is in line with commitments in the programme for Government to respond to the recommendations of the citizens' assembly.

An interdepartmental group, led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, was established in March this year. The work of the group is close to concluding and policy proposals, to include heads of Bills, will be brought forward for the Government to make a decision on the matter as soon as possible. There are various other proposals for further constitutional reforms under consideration. However, no final decisions have been made as of yet on the timing for the holding of other referendums.

Some of the proposed reforms, such as on housing and extending the franchise at presidential elections to Irish citizens living outside the State, arise from the programme for Government, while others, such as on the EU Agreement on a Unified Patent Court, arise from existing legal requirements. The establishment of the Electoral Commission will help to streamline the conduct of referendums and provide independent oversight thereof.

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