Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Regarding the legislative programme, since the Government came to office after the last general election on 14 June 2007, some 73 Bills have been enacted. There was not a pre-existing raft of legislation that was coming from the previous Dáil as all of that legislation was cleared. It enabled us to enter the 30th Dáil without that backlog of work to be conducted as well. In the summer session 29 Bills were published. As Deputies, and particularly Deputy Burton will be aware, in the current autumn session some landmark legislation has been introduced and this has rightly taken up much of the legislative time of the House because of its importance. I refer to the National Asset Management Agency Bill and other financial-type Bills that needed to be dealt with. In the current autumn session seven Bills have been published to date and I understand the remaining Bills on the A list will also be published before the end of the session, which is the normal criteria for putting Bills on the A list at the beginning of any parliamentary session.

Deputy Burton then referred to other questions she wishes to ask arising out of the Murphy report. The question of the ownership of schools and those involved in the management of schools has been evolving for some time now. For many years the vocational education system has been dealing with the vocational stream of second level education, post-leaving certificate courses, further education centres and so on. In addition, we have Educate Together and the gaelscoil movement. Thus, there are various models; there is not a uniform school management structure. This has evolved over time and will continue to do so. During a discussion in the House some time ago, various public statements were made - including one by the then Archbishop of Dublin - about the possibility of bringing together a forum to deal with these matters and look to the future. The situation is developing.

To answer the Deputy's question directly, there has not been a meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on legislation, at which these matters could have been considered, since the publication of this report last Thursday evening. Both the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Minister of State with responsibility for children and youth affairs have given detailed statements on behalf of the Government concerning the work that has been done and remains to be done arising from this report, as well as the Ryan report, from which many recommendations have emerged. The general policy question raised by the Deputy is one that will evolve over time.

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