Material outlining the case for and against the referendum on cabinet confidentiality will be ready shortly, the Taoiseach said. Mr Ahern was replying to the Labour deputy leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, who asked: "Will responsibility for drawing up the case for and against be given exclusively to the Progressive Democrats or will Fianna Fail have any role in it?"

Mr Ahern was asked by Mr Quinn if he had any plans to introduce new legislation to provide for an additional referendum after the proposed referendum was completed.

The Taoiseach said he had not, but he recalled that it had already been pointed out in the Dail that if there were still matters outstanding on the issue they would be looked at by the constitutional review committee following the Moriarty and planning tribunals.