Last week, I asked the Taoiseach if he would facilitate a dedicated debate here on the current difficulties regarding the process in the North. I know the Taoiseach shares my concerns about the summer we have had and what is fomenting below the surface there.

The Taoiseach referred me to the Whips' meeting, at which Deputy Ó Snodaigh raised it, but it is not on the agenda this week. I seek a commitment that he will return to this issue.

The Taoiseach may have noted that the Constitutional Convention voted by a huge majority for citizens in the diaspora and in the North to be given the right to vote in presidential elections. This will go to the Government as a recommendation. Will the Taoiseach give us a sense of the timeframe for dealing with this recommendation?

The Sinn Féin Whip raised the question of a debate on Northern Ireland at the meeting as I suggested. I confirm that we will allocate time for a decent discussion on Northern Ireland, but it may take a couple of weeks to get to it as many issues have piled up. The request is approved and the debate will happen.

With regard to the Constitutional Convention, the process is that the chairman will co-ordinate the reports and send them to the Government, which will respond within four months to each report as it is received. We must respond to the second or third report by the end of October. I recognise the strength of the sentiment of what was involved. I went around this circle 25 years ago and it would not be easy to implement such a process were one so inclined. We will respond to the Constitutional Convention's report in due course as we promised.