Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Last night, I tabled a motion on the Adjournment that concerned the proposed referendum on children's rights. As the Cathaoirleach knows, the joint committee reported in February 2010. Its members included many current Cabinet members, those being, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, and the Minister without portfolio, Deputy Howlin, as well as Government backbenchers Deputies White and Neville. We are now in June 2011 and, last night, the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, stated on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, that the referendum would not be held in conjunction with this year's presidential election because doing so would be contentious. I do not know how it could be contentious, as that election will be a low-key affair.