Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

There are three matters I wish to raise with the Tánaiste on the Order of Business. First, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, announced some time ago that he would introduce legislation to put a cap on spending by candidates in the local elections. I asked the Taoiseach about this two weeks or so ago, but he did not appear to know a great deal about it and undertook to come back to me on it. I appreciate he has probably had a lot on his plate over the past two weeks, but will the Tánaiste tell me when the legislation will be introduced to put a cap on spending by candidates in local elections? Has the Government considered the suggestion I made to use the opportunity of the Electoral Bill, which is before the House, to bring in the measure?

Second, in his budget speech the Minister for Finance announced the amalgamation of 31 State agencies. By my calculations, that would require amendment to approximately 15 Acts. Is it intended to do the amalgamation through one Bill or is it intended to have separate Bills? When will we see the legislation before the House to provide for the amalgamation of the State agencies concerned? Third, when will the writ be moved for the Dublin South by-election?

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