THE Government is setting the scene for holding a referendum on Cabinet confidentiality on the same day as the general election.
The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, told the Progressive Democrats leader, Ms Harney, in the Dail that the legislation to hold the referendum would be published very soon, "within the next week or so".
Following the passage of the legislation through both Houses of the Oireachtas, no time limit is set by law for making an Order to hold a referendum, but it must be held between 30 and 90 days after the Order.
The 30 to 90-day rule can be suspended if a general election is called, to enable both polls to be held the same day.