Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

With regard to promised legislation, the dismal record of the Government is only matched by our dismal performance in the football match yesterday. A series of legislative measures was promised by the Government and it is the Government who sets the timetable for legislation. There are less than 20 days left until the Dáil rises for Easter. According to the legislative programme published in 2003, the Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill was to be published in late 2003, the Animal Health Bill in early 2004 and the Minerals Development Bill in 2004. The Pharmacy Bill, to protect patients, was due to be published in 2004, the National Monuments Bill in late 2003, the Charities Regulation Bill in 2005, the Nurses and Midwives Bill, which should have been considered an urgent priority, was due to be introduced in 2004 and the esteemed Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, promised that the Dublin Transport Authority would be put on a statutory footing by way of legislation before last Christmas. Will the Tánaiste explain why the Government cannot even score within its own timetable?

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