Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach stated that the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, has responsibility for the transposition of EU legislation review. I am asking the Taoiseach a question about that responsibility. Will the Minister of State carry out a review of how legislation has been transposed so that where flexibility is possible, it will be shown? This would demonstrate that the Government had at least listened to the particular problems of sectors of Irish life, ranging from turf-cutting to red tape in small business. The transposition of directives into Irish law is his responsibility. This is a fundamental part of the reason people felt so much frustration about the Lisbon treaty referendum. I ask the Taoiseach to ask the Minister of State, as part of his remit, to carry out a review of what has been transposed in order that we can deal with such issues. I raised with the Taoiseach's predecessor the issue of water charges.

Is the Taoiseach happy that the assistance given to the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny which is also the responsibility of the Minister of State is sufficient? I understand there is a river of material coming towards the committee and that it will need assistance, legal and otherwise, in order that Deputies and Senators who serve on it can be properly and fully acquainted with the range of material coming from Brussels. As the Taoiseach knows, under the Lisbon treaty, they were to have only an eight-week period in which to make their views and concerns known. Is he happy that the committee which has been brought to the level of a full committee is being given the necessary resources to do its job properly in the interests of both the Oireachtas and the public?

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