Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I agree with Deputy Kenny about the necessity for the House to sit through July for the reasons that he has stated. There is a great deal of important business to be dealt with, some of which the respective Ministers have signalled. I drew the Taoiseach's attention last week to the Dáil calendar which suggests that the Dáil will rise on 2 July, a week earlier than last year.

I wish to raise three matters, the first concerns reports at the weekend that some Deputies have been suggesting to their constituents that the Government has decided to restore the Christmas bonus. Is that the case and when will the Revised Estimate for the Department to give effect to that be brought before the House? Second, in its programme the Government commits to legislate for civil partnerships at the earliest possible date in its lifetime. The Government published heads of the proposed Bill on 25 June 2008. When will we see the Bill published and has the Government approved it?

Finally, while I was in here questioning the Taoiseach, and he was answering me, about the possibility of conducting an audit on the finances and assets of the religious congregations, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government was on the airwaves suggesting that there might be legislation to enable an audit to take place. Has the Government considered legislation for auditing the assets of the religious orders?

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