Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

A national monuments Bill is listed in the Government legislative programme. Will this planned Bill pre-empt the European Commission's court case being taken against Ireland for the inadequacy of its national monuments legislation? Will the Government defend that case at EU level?

With regard to the promised nursing home support scheme Bill, rumours have been circulating that the implementation date of the new nursing homes scheme, which is 1 January, will not be achieved. Will we have this Bill in good time before Christmas so the proposed implementation date can proceed?

In what I take is a leak, the newspapers report that the new Government budgetary statement is to be launched today. My understanding is this will happen tomorrow. Do I take it that some Minister got over-eager and leaked too quickly?

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