Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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56. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans with regard to holding referenda in autumn 2018. [23787/18]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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61. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeline and process for the wording of the constitutional amendments ahead of the referenda in October 2018. [26555/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 61 together.

On 26 September 2017, the Government decided on an indicative timetable for a number of referendums to be held in 2018 and 2019. Under this timetable, and subject to passage of the necessary Bills by the Houses of the Oireachtas and formal confirmation of the polling date, it is proposed to hold referendums in October 2018 on the offence of blasphemy (Article 40.6.1°1) and on a woman's life within the home (Article 41.2). Commitments to hold these referendums are included in the Programme for a Partnership Government.

The necessary preparatory work to facilitate the holding of these referendums is now drawing to a close within my Department.

In relation to blasphemy, that work has involved an assessment of the various options which exist in relation to the nature of the question which should be put to the people. The Government gave approval on 12 June for the holding of a Referendum to amend the Constitution to provide for the removal of the offence of blasphemy, and for the drafting of the required Constitution Amendment Bill. I expect to be in a position to publish that Bill in the very near future.

The issue of the provision on “a woman's life within the home” is being examined by my Department in collaboration with other relevant Departments and the Office of the Attorney General, with a view to determining the best legal approach as regards the question to be put to the people. 

More generally, funding arrangements have been put in place within my Department and contact has been maintained with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Office of the Ombudsman, both of which will have key roles to play in relation to the Referendum process. In addition, the timely publication of both Bills will allow for the early establishment of Referendum Commissions and will ensure that the Commissions will have adequate time within which to begin their preparatory work.