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Dáil
‹ Order of Business

Priority of constitutional referendums

Summary

Opposition Deputies question why marriage equality and presidential-age referendums take priority over blasphemy, and ask what role the Dáil has; the Taoiseach says the Convention made recommendations but set no priorities.

What do they deal with? One relates to marriage equality.

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

There will be one relating to a reduction in age of eligibility for the office of president.

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Is that more important than the blasphemy issue, given what happened in Paris?

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The people might be divided on it.

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

The people's Constitutional Convention did not decide observations on priority for referendums. It made recommendations on elements that should be considered for referendums.

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Does the Dáil have a role? Do elected representatives have any role?

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

There are to be two referendums.

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Who elected them?

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

One relates to marriage equality and the other relates to the presidential issue. They both came from the work of the Constitutional Convention.

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Does the Dáil have any role? Should we at least consider it?

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

Similarly, the question of blasphemy arose from the work of the convention. That referendum will not be held this year.

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