Many of us shared the relief expressed by Deputy Clare Daly in the House yesterday on having got through the recent referendum. Perhaps the last thing we might want to face is the prospect of another referendum in October but that is what the Government has committed to on the wording around blasphemy in the Constitution, the role of women in the home and an instruction for a plebiscite for directly elected mayors in Dublin and Cork. When does the Government intend to decide on these potential referendums? What is the timeline for getting wording accepted and acceptance around running with the plebiscites? Has the Government made up its mind in this regard or when does it expect to do so?

We propose to have a number of referendums concurrent with the presidential election, if there is one, in October of this year and a number of referendums concurrent with the local and European Union elections, which I believe will be held next May. We have a bit of time yet to agree the wording but that remains our plan.