Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Did the Taoiseach say that the sale of alcohol Bill will not be ready until the autumn? I have just attended a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights at which Dr. Gordon Holmes told us he is to report to the Minister by 31 March on the latter's commitment to introduce the Bill before the summer. I take it from what the Taoiseach said that it has already slipped.

I refer the Taoiseach to Nos. 27 and 28 on today's Order Paper, namely, the Garda Síochána (Powers of Surveillance) Bill 2007 and the Witness Protection Programme (No. 2) Bill 2007. Both are Private Members' Bills in my name. Given the ongoing legislative drought on the Government side, is the Taoiseach prepared to take ownership of these two Bills? If not, will he permit their being introduced to the House in Government time?

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