Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

——published the list of legislation to be published and enacted before the end of the session. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform's section includes the criminal justice (forensic sampling evidence) Bill, the criminal justice (miscellaneous provisions) Bill, the criminal justice (money laundering) Bill and the sale of alcohol Bill. Why has none of this legislation been enacted and why has not a single one of these Bills been debated in the House since 23 September? None of them has been published.

By way of a further initiative, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform promised that a covert surveillance Bill would be published and debated before the end of this session, but there has been no sign of it. The Minister's action in respect of it has certainly been more covert than anything else. It is important that we debate this matter before the end of the session. The Minister's only response to the crime and murder taking place in the State has been to announce the general scheme of the criminal justice (public order)(amendment) Bill, which relates to vagrancy and is designed to prevent people begging on the streets in the run-up to Christmas. Will the Taoiseach indicate the proposals of the Government in respect of these Bills, which were promised last September?

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