In the programme for Government, the Government has committed to holding constitutional referendums on at least three matters: extending the franchise in the presidential elections to Irish citizens outside the State, housing and Article 41.2.1° with regard to women in the home. I am also interested in a referendum on the Unified Patent Court which is urgent. Will the Tánaiste tell me whether there is a plan to hold any of these referendums in the coming six months or year?

We have not agreed dates for any of those referendums as of yet. It is fair to say that none of them will happen within six months. It takes a bit of time to plan for a referendum. My Department has begun the process of planning for the referendum on the patent court, which will happen no later than the local and European elections of 2024. We do not have dates for the referendums. We will need to have dates because a number of them probably should happen next year but it has not been agreed by Cabinet yet.