Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I have dealt with the single electricity market Bill. The Deputy will be in a position to explain fully where the Labour Party stands on the ESB and its reform in that context and I look forward to hearing an unequivocal explanation to the House as to what he really believes instead of his huffing and puffing here.

With regard to the contention that there is no serious business in the House next week, it was agreed between the Whips last night that the Citizens Information Bill and the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will be tabled for discussion next week. These are serious pieces of legislation. The National Oil Reserves Agency Bill is also serious legislation. In addition, the House will, at the request of the Opposition parties, discuss suicide, which is important business. There are 21 Bills on the A list and the Government intends to publish all of them.

On the ethics issue, the Taoiseach explained at great length to Deputy Rabbitte yesterday what the Government had decided. The suggestion that other matters with regard to the Public Offices Commission might be dealt with is something on which the Government has made no decision. The Taoiseach indicated that if there was to be a change in the law, he would like to hear the case made for it. I see in today's newspaper that informed sources say a considerable number of the commission have other ideas on the matter.

The Government will make its mind up on legislative proposals when it sees the proposals and the arguments made in favour of them. We will not go down a road where a group of people sits in a room somewhere in Dublin and reads the newspapers and decides on the basis of what journalists publish that it will start investigations, without anybody having the courage to make a formal complaint.

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