Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

There are two issues. I said to the Deputy the way a Bill is drafted is that the heads are normally taken separately and work is finished on them in the parliamentary draftsman's office. Normally — in most cases — there is consultation on them with the various stakeholders and interested people. I have told Ministers there is an advantage in publishing heads at that stage. Often, Departments seem to engage in dialogue with various interests without publishing the heads. The Tánaiste on the nursing home Bill has stated she has or will publish the heads. Departments have been reluctant over the years to publish heads of Bills but they still engage in discussions. My view is that there is not much point in this. It is just as easy to do it the other way.

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