Referendum on any settlement likely in late May

A referendum on any peace talks agreement was likely to take place in late May, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, told the Dail. He added it was likely two questions would be put in a referendum.

Mr Ahern said the British government favoured May 8th as a referendum date but he had explained that 'towards the end of May' might be more realistic to cover the '30-day rule'. This would allow the Dail have adequate time to discuss any agreement 'if we do get an agreement'.

Mr Ahern said paramilitary extremists on both sides 'should not be allowed to dictate the pace - and in this regard I would like to congratulate the gardai for their success recently, including in Louth, in preventing further attacks'.

He also welcomed the announcement by the European Commission of a further £88 million in economic aid to support the peace process. The Taoiseach also told deputies that no decision had been taken 'one way or another' about moving the talks to a venue abroad.

He had stressed in meetings with the SDLP and Sinn Fein 'the importance of continuing to work towards reaching agreement by Easter, with the participation of all parties'.

The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, asked if specific wording for changes in Articles 2 and 3 had been discussed with the parties.

Mr Ahern said the Government had discussed the principles of constitutional change but had not discussed any specific wording.

In response to the Labour Party leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, the Taoiseach said the governments had to 'complete an overall agreement'.

He said they had spent a lot of time trying to reach agreement on a range of issues and 'with the exception of policing matters, they are not going to change that much'. Further intensive discussions were taking place to ensure agreement on an issue by issue basis 'focusing immediately on constitutional, security, policing and equality issues'.

The Taoiseach added it was likely that two questions would be put in a referendum, one on any proposed constitutional change and the second on the agreement reached between the parties.

Arrangements should be made to ensure that paramilitary tactics were not used to determine the outcome of a referendum on any peace agreement, the Fine Gael leader said.

Mr Bruton asked if the Taoiseach was aware the extent to which paramilitary beatings were used to 'dominate areas' and that this method could be used after an agreement was reached to determine the outcome. Mr Ahern said: 'I hope that the Mitchell Principles will continue to apply forever more'.

Mr Austin Currie (FG, Dublin West) said that in recent elections in the North there was an increasing tendency to malpractice. He believed that in the referendum there would be 'a serious temptation to be involved in electoral abuse, particularly personation'.

The Taoiseach said the British government was aware of the problem but it was an issue that was not easily rectified.