Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I have a suggestion for the Government if it insists on a recess until 29 September. Will it reconvene the House for one day at the beginning of September to introduce the Bill to hold the referendum on children as well as table a motion to move the writ for the three by-elections for the three vacancies in the House? We could at least use the month of September to put the referendum on children before the people, have it adopted and hold the three by-elections. The last time the writ was moved in the House the Government said it did not wish to interrupt Dáil business by holding the by-elections. It can now hold them in September if it reconvenes the House for one day at the beginning of that month to move the writ, as well as introduce the Bill to hold the referendum on children. These could be held at the end of September and, at least, have some political business carried out in September if the Government insists that the Dáil cannot be back in session until 29 September. The Labour Party is absolutely opposed to the proposal that the Dáil be closed down until 29 September.

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