Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I also welcome the fact there is an agreed motion before the House in respect of the Ryan report and I join colleagues in urging further progress regarding the presentation of an implementation plan before the end of next month, to be presented by the appropriate Minister. It is important that this House maintains a very careful scrutiny of work concerning the implementation of all the recommendations contained in the Ryan report.

I note that although the Government has signalled repeatedly its intention to advise the House of the detail of agreements reached or to be reached with other member states on matters pertaining to the Lisbon referendum, specifically the proposed second referendum on the Lisbon treaty and the binding agreements that were promised thereto, that a meeting of EU ambassadors scheduled for today has been cancelled. We understand this is because a number of member states are uncomfortable with the matters being pursued and with the proposed text. As this is absolutely related to the promised legislation, given that if there is to be a second Lisbon referendum it must be provided for by a referendum Bill, will the Taoiseach indicate, in light of the cancellation of the ambassadors' meeting, where this negotiation now stands and when such a Bill will be published?

Yesterday the Joint Committee on Health and Children published a progress report on the recommendations it made three years ago in respect of the high level of suicide in Irish society. The committee has expressed concern at the lack of progress in respect of its 33 recommendations. On all but six the Government has made no significant or very limited progress. Given the high level of the incidence of suicide in Irish society would this so called progress report prompt the Taoiseach to accommodate a full debate within the House on the lack of progress within the Department of Health and Children? The recommendations made are specifically under the aegis of the current Minister-----

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