Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Since the beginning of the year, we have seen a succession of announcements of job losses. This week 330 jobs were lost at Allergan in Arklow, County Wicklow. Before that 220 jobs went at Jacobs Fruitfield, 60 at Britvic in Cork and 400 at the Burlington Hotel. Up to 1,500 jobs are under threat at SR Technics. Construction employment is down by 5.4% with 15,000 more on the live register than this time last year. Yesterday, some economic expert predicted unemployment will reach 6% by the end of this year.

Given the large number of job losses, will an opportunity be given to the House to discuss the strategies to deal with employment and the problems presented for those workers losing their jobs?

The Tánaiste will recall that the Ethics in Public Office Bill was announced in October 2006 by the Taoiseach and the then Tánaiste, Mr. Michael McDowell, following the revelations about the Taoiseach's finances at that time. The Bill provided for an arrangement whereby if a Member of the Oireachtas were to get a gift or a loan he or she would seek an opinion from the Standards in Public Office Commission before accepting it. The Bill completed all Stages in the Seanad on 4 July, but it was never presented to this House. The Bill is sponsored by the Tánaiste's Department. In the absence of other legislation this week I was surprised that the Bill was not presented to the House. When does the Tánaiste intend to take Second Stage of that Bill in this House?

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