Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I want to raise three matters. The Taoiseach will recall that for some time the Labour Party has been seeking the appointment of an inspector to examine what went on in the banking system and particularly in Anglo Irish Bank. The Government rejected that request and said the Director of Corporate Enforcement would carry out the necessary investigations. As the Taoiseach is aware, the Director of Corporate Enforcement has requested legislation to strengthen his powers. When I asked about this last week the Minister for Finance, who was taking the Order of Business, suggested that while the Government was considering it, it did not seem to be an urgent consideration. Has the Government considered that request from the Director of Corporate Enforcement? If so, when will the necessary amending legislation be brought before the House?

I also want to ask about reports of an arrangement which appears to have been made between UCD and Trinity College with regard to the distribution of funding for the programme for research in third-level institutions. It is causing considerable anxiety to the other university institutions. I would like to know if the Minister for Education and Science will take an opportunity to attend the House to clarify that matter.

On Friday evening last, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, told his party conference that he had succeeded in getting a reversal of the decision to cut back the Equality Authority's funding.

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