Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I now say it is sensible to have it on a day when people are going to the polls in any event.

This was signalled at the beginning of the life of the Government, as part of An Agreed Programme for Government, as something that would be faced up to and if necessary a constitutional solution sought. We are constantly reminded by our Opposition critics that we are two years into the life of this Government. On what other occasion, prior to the next general election, whenever that may be, would there be a broad representative turn out of the Irish people going to the polling stations?