Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I am not anti-regions at all. The regions were not too kind to Deputy Treacy when he gave it a whirl five years ago.

The Tánaiste said lethargy and inability to make hard decisions is the reason for paralysis in Government. Does she not accept that part of the reason for such disenchantment with the Government is the manner in which it treats and diminishes this House at every turn? If she is trying to push reforms through this lethargic Cabinet, for whatever is its remaining life, will she promote an agenda of reform of this House? The instance raised by Deputy Richard Bruton in regard to the capacity of the House to monitor and examine the merits of the decentralisation programme is a good example. Her colleagues campaigned in this city on the basis that decentralisation, as announced by the Minister for Finance and not decentralisation per se, was a Fianna Fáil idea. I am sure Deputy Fiona O'Malley kept her commitment to the public that she would talk to the Tánaiste about it. Is it not important that the House has the opportunity to scrutinise the proposals, such as they are, given the figures revealed for the Tánaiste's Department and for FÁS-based staff?

On promised legislation, given how unsettled matters are, when will the constituencies revision Bill be brought before the House in case we are all caught by surprise and we need to have it behind us?

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