A BILL to allow a referendum to relax Cabinet confidentiality is expected to be published today. However, the Government gave no indication last night it intended to hold the referendum the same day as the general election.

With only about four sitting days to go before the anticipated dissolution of the Dail and the calling of a general election, there was speculation that the vote on Cabinet confidentiality would be held on the same day as the Presidential election in November.

The commitment to deal with Cabinet confidentiality is contained in the Programme for Government, but the Coalition ran into difficulties in drafting an appropriate wording.

The issue was put back on the agenda when the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, suggested in the Dail in the wake of Mr Michael Lowry's resignation that it he addressed again and a referendum be held to coincide with a general election.

The referendum is designed to relax the ruling on Cabinet confidentiality which was delivered during the beef tribunal by the Supreme Court. The ruling places an absolute obligation on Ministers not to divulge the content of discussions at the Cabinet table, though memorandums and papers presented to Government may be revealed.