Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Government for agreeing to the simple motion in respect of sending out a clear message about the carry-on on the streets of Dublin last Saturday. I do not believe the Ceann Comhairle can rule me out of order when I mention the legislative programme, which refers to wider business and not just the Department of the Taoiseach. Only one Bill has been initiated in the Seanad this session and all other legislation to come before the Seanad has been amending legislation sent back from here. Of the 17 Bills on the Government's legislative programme, so far only four have been published.

Where is the promised legislation to introduce an independent inspectorate for nursing homes, which has been on the stocks for some time? Where is the promised legislation to clarify entitlements and rights to health services? Where is the promised legislation to establish a register of persons deemed unsafe to work with children? These are three fundamental areas. It increasingly appears in the past two years in particular that there is a blockage in the legislative procedure, either in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government or elsewhere. While it is important for us to be able to take statements here, a paucity of legislation is coming through. I ask the Taoiseach to comment on this issue and refer to the three Bills of fundamental importance, which have been promised for some time.

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