Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

Has the Taoiseach decided the date on which the referendum on the Lisbon treaty will take place? I received inquiries from a number of European colleagues in respect of this matter yesterday.

There are almost 40 Bills from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on the list of proposed legislation. I am glad the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is present. He is an extremely progressive individual and he will need to be because crime rates continue to increase. With each day that passes, the issues relating to crime become more serious. Which three of the 40 Bills to which I refer will the Minister or the Taoiseach direct to be introduced in order that we might deal with issues relating to the intimidation of witnesses, extradition and the use of offshore locations by crime lords intent on continuing to carry out their business? The Minister is smiling but I do not believe this is a matter about which people should smile. This is a serious issue in respect of which urgent attention is required. Will the Taoiseach indicate what is likely to happen in this area?

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