Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I refer to the matter raised by Deputy Bruton, namely, the proposals by the Health Service Executive on reorganisation and reform. Will the Tánaiste confirm that the Government has received proposals from the HSE, as reported in today's edition of The Irish Times? Will she indicate when the Government will address those proposals or when it is likely to make decisions arising from them?

Last week I asked the Tánaiste about arrangements for a debate on the report from the Morris tribunal which we received on the day the Taoiseach was elected and the Cabinet announced. She said two other reports were imminent from the Morris tribunal and that perhaps it might be wise for us to await those reports and then debate the lot. I believe she said they would be available in a couple of weeks, and that seems perfectly reasonable, but I am conscious there are only six sitting weeks left until the summer recess.

I would like some certainty as to when the other two reports of the Morris tribunal will be received. Can the Tánaiste assure the House they will be received in time for us to have a debate on the Morris tribunal this side of the summer recess? I do not want us to wait for the reports and find that, when they appear, somebody has to be consulted about what is in them, meaning they cannot be published and a debate must be postponed until after the summer. The report of the Morris tribunal that we have received is serious and requires to be debated in the House, and I am anxious that the debate should take place this side of the summer recess. If we do not receive the next two reports, we should have a debate on the report that has been published.

My third item relates to the confusion which is overwhelming the arts world as to who is the Minister with responsibility for the arts. The Taoiseach, when he announced the Ministers of State last week, said Deputy Mansergh was being appointed as Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works and would also have responsibility for the arts. I see from newspaper reports that the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism sees the role of the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, as a bag carrier for him.

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