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Dáil
‹ Order of Business

Marriage equality constitutional proposal

Summary

Aengus Ó Snodaigh seeks a debate on Croke Park II and asks whether drafting has begun for a marriage-equality referendum following the Constitutional Convention. The Taoiseach rejects an emergency debate, says the Government must consider the ballot, and cannot confirm drafting has started.

Given that Croke Park II is likely to be rejected by its potential victims, would the Taoiseach consider having a debate on this issue tomorrow after the final outcome has emerged from the ICTU meeting?

I wish to raise two other matters. I welcome the weekend's finding by the Convention on the Constitution that the Constitution should be changed to provide for marriage equality. Can the Taoiseach confirm that work is starting on drafting the wording which would give effect to that constitutional change? I have an additional question on the convention.

Will the Taoiseach consider altering the remit of the convention to take account of the need for constitutional change to give effect to an amendment of upward only rent reviews, which Fine Gael------

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

I am sorry, we do not want a debate.

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This is not a debate. A commitment was given by the Government parties prior to the election.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

We do not deal with commitments on the Order of Business.

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We do if they come under the programme for Government.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

Exactly.

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It was promised that this issue would be addressed and it has not been to date.

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I do not propose to hold an emergency debate tomorrow. The Government will obviously have to reflect on the outcome of the ballot once it is announced, to consider the nature of that result and to deal with it because we have to find €300 million in savings this year and, clearly, as I have said on many occasions, one can only deal with front-line services being reduced to a limited extent.

I cannot confirm to the Deputy that work is under way in respect of the wording for the outcome of the constitutional convention but I can confirm that the convention is working exceptionally well and that the citizens who were selected at random by an appropriate method have engaged constructively with the political representatives to make the convection work. The level of debate on the issues that have been considered by the convention has been very high. The Deputy will be aware that the convention will send its report to the Government. The Government will consider that report and indicate what its responses to the issues that the convention was mandated to consider should be. We will do that in due course and if the Government decides to accept any of the recommendations made by the convention, it will say so and if the answer is in the affirmative, there will be an indication of a timeline as to when they might be considered by referendum.

I do not propose to prepare a referendum in respect of upward only rent reviews.

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