Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The health (long-term residential care services) Bill is proving to be complex. The Minister is anxious to ensure that full consideration is given to the issues before publication. We hope to have the Bill shortly; it is at an advanced stage. It is expected that the stamped draft will issue soon and we hope it will be published shortly thereafter, that is, before the summer.

In regard to the sale of alcohol Bill, the Minister intends to draft a shorter Bill from the recommendations of the report he commissioned and to bring that Bill to the House before the summer recess.

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