David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

I support the comments of Deputies Kenny and Gilmore. For instance, the animal health and welfare Bill was promised first in September 2003, which is almost five years ago. It was on the B list then and it is now on the C list. The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism sponsors the Irish Sports Council (amendment) Bill, which was promised in September 2006. It was in section A in January 2007 but it is now in section B. The same Department is responsible for the greyhound industry (amendment) Bill, which first appeared in section C of the programme in September 2006. It was moved to section B in the most recent legislative programme and it is still there.

The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources first listed the minerals development Bill in section C in September 2005. It moved to section B and it has remained there since. The Department of Defence has only two Bills in the legislative programme, one of which has been promised since September 2004 — the Curragh of Kildare Bill. It appeared on the A list in September 2006 but it is now on the B list. The Government is all over the place with legislation. The defence (amendment) Bill appeared in section C in January 2005, section A in 2006 and in section B when the Government entered office. The adoption Bill, which is important legislation, was first promised in section C in September 2004. It was moved to section B in the legislation programme for the summer 2005 session and it was listed in the A list in 2007. It remains on that list and we still have not seen it.

The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform's criminal justice (miscellaneous provisions) Bill was first promised in September 2004. It was moved to section A in April 2007 and remained there in the Government's first legislative programme but it was then moved to section B before returning to section A. The sale of alcohol Bill, which is topical and important, was on the B list in September 2005 and has remained there since. The Department of Transport's harbours Bill was first promised in September 2004 in section C of the programme. It remained there until April 2006. It then disappeared and reappeared in section A in April 2008.

Consistency is needed. What is happening with all these Bills? Will they ever be published?

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