Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I will be as frank as possible with the Senator. First, a decision has not been made on the date. If it had been, I am not sure that I would be saying so at this point. Second, a judgment will have to be made as to whether we will have one referendum or two referenda on the same day. I would like to focus on an issue, such as this referendum, which I think is important but the Government has promised a referendum on children. As the Taoiseach said yesterday in the Dáil, the Government is anxious to fulfil that undertaking. The date will be in summertime and I hope it will be in the early part of the summer because we do not want to clash with the leaving certificate examinations or the holidays. None of us wants to be out knocking on doors in the dark days of autumn or winter. The treaty must be ratified by Ireland in 2008. My instinct and wish is that it would be sooner rather than later, and that it will be in the early part of the summer. I cannot be more forthcoming than that, however.