Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

I commend the Taoiseach and his European colleagues for achieving agreement last night on a mechanism to deal with the euro crisis. I call on the Attorney General to burn the midnight oil to bring certainty and clarity to the question of whether a referendum will be required. Uncertainty is both unhelpful and destabilising. I do not know why the Attorney General cannot provide her opinion as a matter of urgency. I call on the Leader to impress on her the importance of this matter and ensure that whatever resources she requires will be made available to her in order that she might provide a considered opinion as soon as possible. The last thing we need is for a debate to take place during the next four to six weeks on whether a referendum is required. What is needed is a decision. Once that decision has been made, we will be in a position to move on and either campaign in a referendum or ensure the compact will be implemented as quickly as possible. What is required more than anything else is financial certainty as well as stability in order to ensure the economy can grow and that the Government can proceed with the important task of creating employment to bring to an end mass unemployment and the emigration being experienced.