Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

The first matter I wish to raise relates to secondary legislation, namely the guidelines issued to the boundary commission, which is examining the local boundaries for the 2009 local elections. The commission is precluded from considering the possibility of equalising representation as between counties but a gross inequality now exists in that regard. Has the matter been considered and if so, why has it been ruled out? Has the Government received legal advice on the constitutionality of such a discrepancy regarding the representation of people who ultimately are the electors for a House of the Oireachtas?

The Tánaiste will be aware that I introduced on behalf of the Labour Party, on two separate occasions, in the current and previous Dáil, a Civil Unions Bill. The first was agreed by the House, but with a date of implementation beyond the lifetime of that Dáil, which was a disreputable way of voting it down. When it was introduced again in this Dáil, a commitment was given that the Government would produce its own legislation in this session, that is, the first session of 2008. It is not on the legislative programme for this session. When will the Government's civil partnership Bill be introduced?

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