andMr. Horgan asked the Minister for Education if it is the intention of the Government to hold a referendum to amend the Constitution on the question of Seanad representation from the National University of Ireland, and if so, if it is intended to hold this referendum on the same day as other elections and referendum in June 1979.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - NUI Representation in Seanad.
14.
The question of this referendum is under consideration and I hope to be able to make a statement in the near future.
Is the Minister aware that the Taoiseach recently said in the House that the only urgency in connection with the referendum was the next General Election?
The Minister is fully aware and takes careful note of everything the Taoiseach says.
Is the Minister, therefore, saying that because the Taoiseach believes there is no urgency this side of the General Election the university legislation will not be discussed until after the next General Election?
I pondered what the Taoiseach said very carefully and I did not deduce from it that he thought there was no urgency.
Does the Minister accept that the university legislation can be processed through this House in advance of the necessary constitutional referendum?
I do not.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Am I right in thinking that the Taoiseach said recently that no referendum would be held on the same day as the local elections and the European elections?
It was a particular Parliamentary Question to which Deputy Horgan referred and I was referring to that when I mentioned about pondering what the Taoiseach said.
If the Minister says that the referendum must precede the legislation and if the Taoiseach says that the referendum is of no urgency except in connection with the next General Election, does the Minister not accept that it follows that we will not have any legislation before the next General Election?
I assure Deputy Horgan that we will have legislation. One year and seven months is the period in office of this Government at the moment and I assure the Deputy that we are conscious of the time element and that we will have the legislation.