Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I welcome the Taoiseach's statement to the effect that time may be allowed for a discussion of the bank capitalisation proposal. It will send a solid signal to markets, namely, that the Government has some sense of what it wants to do. To wait until the end of January would be unbelievable.

Concerning promised legislation, the Tánaiste stated on 20 November that health insurance legislation would be introduced in the Dáil before the recess. When will we see the legislation? She stated that it would be published before Christmas, but we have not seen it. Will we see it in the coming days?

On the Order Paper, No. 8 is intended to commemorate the first sitting of the first Dáil. The Labour Party will be delighted to participate. In terms of the development of our democracy, was the Taoiseach not saddened by the forced resignation of Mr. Niall Crowley as the chief executive of the Equality Authority?

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