Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Taoiseach to clarify the position regarding the property tax. He mentioned previously that the legislation would be published on budget day. Is that still the case? I also ask him to update us on the health amendment Bill, which proposes to provide free GP services. When is it likely to be published and debated in the Dáil? The programme for Government committed to providing free GP care for claimants under the long-term illness scheme in the first year of Government but we are already nine months behind that target. When will it be delivered and what is causing the delay?

I welcome the publication yesterday of the report of the expert group on the judgment in A, B and C v. Ireland. I ask the Taoiseach to indicate whether the report will be debated in the Dáil next Tuesday and on another day next week. I suggest, given the importance of the issue and also the fact that we will have the budget next week, which should dominate discussions here, that he convene the Parliament on Monday. Sinn Féin would be happy to facilitate that so that we can have a dedicated discussion on the expert group report on Monday and Tuesday, because the rest of the week will be taken up with budgetary matters, as will much of the following week. I urge the Taoiseach to consider convening the Parliament on Monday so that we can discuss the report properly.

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