The Irish Examiner yesterday reported a division within the Cabinet concerning plebiscites on directly elected mayors for Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Galway. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, was reported as stating there was no proper costing of the proposal and the Attorney General as stating there were no details of what the powers of the mayors would be. It is due for debate later today. Will the Taoiseach indicate if the Government has decided whether there will be plebiscites for those cities in May? If so, when does the Taoiseach expect the mayors to be in place?

The Government has decided there will be plebiscites in May for Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. We confirmed that decision at Cabinet today. As to when the mayors will be in place, that will depend on many factors. We have to get the legislation for the plebiscites through the Dáil and Seanad and that could be tight. With the co-operation of everyone in this House, however, we could have it through in time for the referendums in May. It depends then on whether the people in those cities decide to vote for the proposals.