Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I wish to speak on health legislation and if I am out of order in terms of grouping, I will take the Ceann Comhairle's guidance.

Regarding the raft of health legislation that has not been brought forward and in the context of the fact that it is estimated some 5,000 people die prematurely in Ireland each year as a result of social deprivation, including health inequality, how is it that a Bill that was on the last legislative programme for publication this year, which first appeared on the Government's legislative programme in January 2006 for publication that year, has now been deferred once again? I speak of the eligibility for health and personal social services Bill. This is crucial legislation that, once again, now appears next to the message "not possible to indicate". That was not the case last January and it has not been the position since January 2006. I have gone back through each of the legislative programmes since it first appeared on the Government's proposals.

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