Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I note the Taoiseach's remarks on Government legislation. I focus on issues which impact on the smooth running and efficiency of the committee system and I ask the Taoiseach to take them on board in the spirit in which they are offered. The Joint Committee on Justice and Equality handles perhaps the greatest volume of legislative work and address of all committees. We have a substantial problem in relation to money messages for Private Members' Bills. We have highlighted this repeatedly and, through the office of the Ceann Comhairle, directly with the Taoiseach. It is creating an inordinate delay and difficulty in scheduling the business of the committee. We have even had a situation where we had been advised a money message was not required, scheduled a Bill for address and, on almost the eve of the debate, been notified that it had been re-evaluated and that a money message was required. We have that being suggested again in relation to a Bill we are preparing to address only next week. I ask the Taoiseach to take this as a very serious matter and to address the issue with the alacrity it needs.