Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

On the first issue, the Minister of State, Deputy Carey, is working with ministerial colleagues, some of whom are former Whips, in regard to the preparation of the Dáil reform programme. Work on the matter is continuing following which the Minister of State will bring the issue before Cabinet and, in due course, before the House for consideration.

The Minister of State, Deputy Roche, who is responsible for European affairs is in close contact with all of the institutions on a regular basis. Regarding the preparation of the legal text, these are, in the first instance, prepared by the Irish Government and dealt with by the legal council services and will be brought before the Czech Presidency and wider European Council members as soon as sufficient progress has been made on the text and as soon as the discussions have been brought to appropriate fruition. It is an ongoing process that is urgently being pursued.

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