Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I thank the Minister of State for his explanation.

Will the Tánaiste tell me when the Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill is likely to come before the House? It was authorised for drafting by the Government on 26 January 1999. Are there drafting problems with it or is the Government not as committed to it as all the parties on this side of the House are? The Green Party was concerned about it when it was on this side of the House.

The Tánaiste's ministry is directly responsible for taking the report of the Standards in Public Office Commission. In respect of the report on political funding and the urgency that attaches in the view of the commission on the necessity to revisit the legislation, I have a statement here from Deputy Boyle which says the Green Party is in agreement with the points I raised the last day about this and that he thinks the Government will include amendments to meet the request from the Standards in Public Office Commission. Is that the case and does the Government intend to advance that legislation?

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