Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

The Minister for Health and Children has been anxious to publish the report on Leas Cross nursing home. Problems with the legal advice given to the Health Service Executive have delayed its publication. I note that a magazine today carries excerpts from the report under the headline: "This is the report the Government does not want to publish." That is not true. The Government fully supports its publication as soon as the HSE resolves the legal issues in the matter and I understand that this will happen in the coming weeks.

As I indicated last week, the health Bill will be published in 2007 and it will put the inspectorate on a statutory basis. That inspectorate is operating, resources are being supplied to the area and new people are being recruited to carry out functions protecting the elderly from abuse. The absence of a statutory basis is not inhibiting the social service inspectorate from getting on with its work.

No legislation is needed on fireworks, but I echo the Deputy's remarks that the law is the law and must be respected. People are queuing up north of the border with the intention of bringing them south. If a customs officer stops them, which I hope happens, there will be a criminal prosecution and their cars are liable to be confiscated. I warn people that the law is tougher than it was and the consequences of breaking it are serious.

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