I am unclear as to the Taoiseach's response to my question.

The Taoiseach is like Jedward.

I accept that today's meeting is extremely important. However, the debate here is equally important. I read in The Irish Times this morning that the Taoiseach’s spokesman confirmed last night that the Taoiseach had received a request from RTE to participate in a leaders’ debate.

It must be true so.

The spokesman said the Taoiseach had received numerous requests. I asked the Taoiseach if he would confirm that he had received a request from RTE to participate in a debate. Fianna Fáil has inquired of RTE if there is to be a debate but has received no response in that regard. It is a fair question. I am not getting involved in any issue between the Taoiseach and Sinn Féin. Sinn Féin is holding its Ard-Fheis this weekend----

Ammunition for Fianna Fáil.

-----which I believe is the context of the invitation to the Taoiseach to do a broadcast. It is an unusual set of circumstances because normally political parties holding ard-fheiseanna are informed by RTE that if an Ard-Fheis takes place six weeks in advance of any general election there will be no coverage of it.

Can we have a supplementary question, please?

That would normally be the case but this is a change of tack in regard to how Sinn Féin is being treated. The Taoiseach has been invited but that is not really my point. That is for another day and other parties will also have issues about it in the fullness of time.

Do you have an issue?

Thank you, you are over time.

What I am trying to get at here is the need for a genuine political debate between the political leaders on both sides who are advocating positions on the treaty. It is the fairest way to resolve any claims or counter-claims about lack of balance in how particular parties are treated or in terms of the campaign. More important, we should have the confidence in our position to be able to go on national television and debate the issues. People do not understand a reluctance to become involved.

Deputy, you are considerably over time. Do you have your supplementary question?

What about the Independents?

Will the Taoiseach confirm that RTE has invited him to participate in a debate, as his spokesman stated last night?

We need to reflect on this in the House in a general sense. Leaving the referendum and the treaty question aside for the moment, we need to look at what is happening in regard to referenda in general. Referenda are matters for the people to make decisions on; they are not about giving profiles to individual politicians. Irrespective of the public response in its votes for the different parties, that situation is never reflected in the case of a referendum. I have been through perhaps 22 of the Twenty-six Counties debating this publicly, in village halls, town halls and on the streets-----

Not debating.

-----and, indeed, meeting the professional dustbin bashers brigade in various locations around the country. Peaceful protest is perfectly legitimate in this country. I have no fear at all of dealing with public debate on this issue. However, I am not sure we should turn this into a crisis situation, offering more advantage for, shall we say, minority party views.

Fear.

It is called democracy.

Deputy Adams had his fling on the "Frontline" debate-----

What side are you on, Finian?

------with the Tánaiste and more than met his match.

Has RTE invited the Taoiseach?

When the Deputy speaks of balancing the debate, if that were to be the case, I consider that I, the Tánaiste and the Deputy's good self would be more than a match for Deputy Adams. He would regard that as being very unbalanced, I am quite sure.

Let us have it.

Throw the ball in, Taoiseach.

Ask Mr. Rabbitte to give us a song.

We are over time, thank you.

I know an invitation has come for the Taoiseach to deliver an address on Sunday. I have not personally seen an invitation from RTE to participate in a debate.

I just wanted to confirm if RTE had invited the Taoiseach. That is all.

I have not seen any invitation-----

Through the Chair, please.

-----but I will confirm it to the Deputy after the Order of Business.

The spindoctors will have it.

The Independent Deputies should get an invitation as well.

Through the Chair, please.

I hear Deputy McGrath is on the "Yes" side in Clontarf.

I call Deputy Adams. Maybe we will all settle down now.

Deputy McGrath does not know whether he is a "Yes" or a "No".

Finian is debating with himself.

I do not know if you are hard of hearing. I called Deputy Adams. Thank you. I know the Deputy is very good. It is the man behind him.

He could debate with Deputy Ross.