Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

Discord need not necessarily break out straight away. I wish to ask about some legislation. Many welcomed the press release from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform yesterday to the effect that there would be legislation to deal with gangland crime. However, I note the signal from Government is that the legislation will not appear until October. Can the Minister not do a little better than that? There is a sense of great urgency about this matter and wide support for it. Will the Minister do better? Will the Tánaiste consult with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to try to fast-track it?

What is the position with the legislation to establish the National Asset Management Agency? We read in the newspapers that it will be introduced in July. Will the Dáil be held back from summer recess to complete the passage of that legislation? Is that the intention of Government?

What is the position with the legislation that dates back to a series of commitments made last October in respect of the rationalisation of State agencies? There was to be a merger of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority, the merger of qualifications authorities in education, the merger of museums and the National Gallery, the merger of fisheries boards and the merger of the Taxi Regulator and the DTA, Dublin Transportation Authority? All of these require legislation but there appears to be no fixed date for them. If these are genuine rationalisations to achieve taxpayer savings we would expect to see the legislation surface. Where is the legislative programme to achieve these savings promised by the Government?

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