Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

On the earlier question on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service, we know that Government backbenchers have been talking about mending their ways since the elections last Friday but what is the Tánaiste's view on the fact that Fianna Fáil members of that committee have censored the opportunity of an Oireachtas committee to address the issue of decentralisation? It is an issue of primary concern to the committee. No matter impacts more on the public service than the proposal to decentralise 10,300 jobs.

On the issue of health Bills and Fianna Fáil backbenchers' commitment to mend their ways, there were at least five health Bills in the programme for the last term scheduled for 2004 but in the current term, they are signalled for 2005 or no date has been given. Will we see expedition of the address of Bills long promised, that is, the medical practitioners Bill, the nurses and midwives Bill, the pharmacy Bill, the VHI Bill and the adoption Bill? All those Bills have now been deferred. Will we see an improvement in terms of the address of this important legislation? Will they be brought forward in 2004?

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