Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform stated today that he intends to press ahead with the Defamation Bill to reform libel law but that he will park the Privacy Bill, originally introduced in tandem with the Defamation Bill and to go hand in hand with it. Will the Taoiseach clarify the Government's intention on the proposed Privacy Bill and, if the Government is not proceeding with it, will there be consequential changes to the Defamation Bill?

Deputy Kenny raised the issue of local government boundaries. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government said in response to a question from Deputy Burton on 1 November that the Government planned to produce a Green Paper in a couple of months and a White Paper some time next year. Meanwhile, the section of the Local Government Act that deals with the numbers of members of local authorities has not yet been commenced. In the meantime, political parties and those considering standing for local elections do not know what the boundaries will be. Will the Taoiseach bring some clarity to the issue soon? If we must wait for a Green Paper, then a White Paper, then a report from the Boundary Commission, the local elections will be upon us. We must have clarity on the electoral boundaries that will be contested in those elections.

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