Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

Is the Tánaiste aware there are three Bills in the course of preparation which, if we are serious about dealing with the current financial crisis, should be given priority? These are the financial services regulation Bill, the reform of financial regulatory structures Bill and the financial services Bill. The white sheet that circulated states that it is not possible to indicate when publication of those Bill is expected. Are we serious about getting our house in order? We are dealing with legislation for NAMA at present, a result of financial institutions not carrying out their business in a proper fashion but here we have Bills that are not priorities. I understood reform of the regulatory system was a priority yet there is no sign of it here. It is not possible to indicate at this stage when these Bills will even be published. Are we serious about reform of the regulatory system? Does the Tánaiste have any intention of putting the skids under the Minister for Finance to get him to publish these Bills as soon as possible?

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