Can the Taoiseach confirm that there will be a referendum on extending voting rights in presidential elections to citizens resident outside the State? Will this referendum be held in May 2015 to coincide with other referendum matter?

Will the Taoiseach allow time to debate the State's response to the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Louise O'Keeffe and, by extension, victims and survivors of abuse in schools throughout the State down the years? The scheme concocted by the Government has been described as a minimalist interpretation of the ruling and has caused widespread anger, not least for Louise O'Keeffe, who described it as discriminatory and outrageous.

It would be all the more outrageous if such a scheme were to go ahead without any scrutiny or debate in the Dáil.

I can confirm for the Deputy that the Government made two decisions yesterday on the holding of referendums. One was to authorise the Minister for Justice and Equality to draft the Bill on marriage equality. The second was to approve the drafting of the Bill on the reduction of the age of eligibility from 35 to 21 years to stand for election as President of Ireland, Uachtarán na hÉireann. This applies to citizens living in the State; it is not about an extension of voting rights, which is a separate matter. That question will be decided by a different decision. This is about a reduction in the age of eligibility from 35 to 21 years to stand for election as President.

When will the Taoiseach make the decision on the other extension?

It applies to citizens living in the State. The referendums will be held on the same day in May next year.

What about Louise O'Keeffe?

I met Louise O'Keeffe and the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, some time ago. We said we would bring forward a memo before the Christmas recess. The Minister presented it yesterday. As the Deputy is aware, the award is based on that determined by the European Court of Human Rights. In that sense, it is an important step. Clearly, it is impossible to determine the number of potential cases if we were to have a general assessment throughout the country, but it could run into thousands. The Minister was clear and careful in her response on the matter. These things will never please everyone.

It did not please Louise O'Keeffe.

We indicated that we would make a decision on the matter before Christmas and that has happened. There will be no objection to having a debate on it in the new year.