Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

We agreed a number of months ago that there would be a debate in the Seanad on the Lisbon Treaty. When will we have that debate? It is also agreed that there will be a referendum. When will we have it? The Taoiseach and the Government are playing games with the date for the referendum, which is damaging to the prospects of a full and open public debate on the treaty. I fully appreciate that the Taoiseach has an appointment in Washington following in the tradition of Liam Cosgrave, who addressed the joint Houses of Congress on 17 March 1976.