Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

We saw the result of the first test of the EU Constitution in Spain last weekend. When will the Government set a date for the holding of a referendum to ratify the EU Constitution in Ireland? It would be useful if a date were set for the referendum early so that there is a long lead-up campaign. If there is not a long period for the dissemination of information so that voters know the issues and political parties take responsibility for explaining them on the doorsteps, the vote could go the way of the first Nice referendum. The Government would be wise to set a date early for this campaign. We could work towards it if we knew such a campaign was to take place over the next year to 15 months. That would greatly help those of us who want Ireland to vote "Yes" in the forthcoming EU constitutional debate.

The Leader took the initiative some years ago to invite individual MEPs to the House at various times to take questions and generally participate in debate in the Seanad. As the Leader is aware, under Standing Orders, the House may invite the entire Irish delegation of MEPs to attend. It would be useful if, some time between now and the summer recess, we invite all the Irish MEPs to the House to debate the European Constitution——