Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is the Taoiseach's view that Ministers put on the list legislation which can be achieved in the timeframe of the list. Many Departments have ambitions for legislation which cannot be achieved in a timely fashion because of its complexity or because it is in the early stage of preparation. Rather than putting such legislation on lists and raising expectations of immediate legislative effect it would be better to shorten the list and have a more definite programme.

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