Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Last year, only 25 pieces of legislation were enacted, the lowest number for more than a decade. This year, 20 Bills were listed by the Government for legislation when the Dáil resumed on 16 September, only four of which have been published. I understand there is a Cabinet committee on legislation, for which the Taoiseach's Department is responsible. In the context of the protection of children and the aftermath of the publication of the Murphy report, I would like to raise three issues.

Following on from the Taoiseach's previous reply, has he a date in mind for the introduction of a Bill concerning soft information? In the Murphy report, problems regarding soft information were central to the strategy of various clerical paedophiles in terms of being protected and not properly investigated. A number of bishops were criticised in the report.

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