Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Unfortunately, practically none of the Bills mentioned has a publication date. They are on the list, but we do not have a date for them. I do not mean to be unhelpful. The Deputy's questions emphasise the point that I will ask the Chief Whip to place on the list only those Bills that will be introduced within a five-month or six-month period, with another list for Bills that we hope to publish thereafter. All other Bills should be left within their Departments until such time as they are ready to be discussed in the House or published. We spend a great deal of time asking about Bills that have been in gestation for years and to which we cannot add anything of value on the floor of the House. In the interests of tidying up our Order of Business arrangements, it has become apparent to me since taking up my post that a change is necessary.

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