Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

I wish to ask the Taoiseach about the ordering of business in the Dáil and promised legislation. I received a letter from the Chief Whip stating that the 25 Bills to be published reflect the Government's determination to fulfil its commitments outlined in An Agreed Programme for Government. Is the Taoiseach confusing the ninth month of pregnancy for the first? How can he seriously suggest that 25 Bills can be published, debated and passed or rejected in the ten weeks remaining? To do that the Government would need more guillotines than the French Revolution. Will the Taoiseach be serious and tell us which Bills are a priority, ones that the Government intends to take in this session before the dissolution of Dáil Éireann, so we can prepare for what will be proposed to the Dáil? We do not need a pink wish list — the longest last will and testament of any Government. We need a real list.

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