Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

As my former teacher, Sr. Price, used to say, empty vessels make most noise. Will the Leader give an indication of when the wording of the referendum question will be available? It is important we have a wide and broad debate on this because it will impose spending cuts of €6 billion. We have seen that Sinn Féin are not the only people who oppose the treaty. The French Socialist Party opposes it, as do the German Social Democrats and the Dutch Labour Party, sister parties of the Labour Party in Europe. It might be interesting to get some members of those parties to come over to take part in the debate.

We have not had a debate on the Mahon report and I call for a debate on it before the recess. It is being debated for three days in the Dáil this week but we will not be discussing it until after the recess and that is not acceptable. If we must come in next Tuesday and Wednesday, so be it.