Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

A Bill to provide for the amendment of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 is on the Order Paper and is promised for 2010. Can the Taoiseach indicate if this likely to appear early in the next session or towards the end of the year?

With regard to the points raised by Deputies Kenny and Quinn about European legislation and how this will affect the operation of the House, another item of legislation promised is one to make amendments to existing fisheries Acts, to include the use of fisheries protection tools in an environmental context. I am not sure what that means. Suffice it to say, most Ministers have been most helpful when appearing before the Joint Committee on European Affairs. In particular I pay compliments to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and his predecessor. However, there is one exception. A particular Minister avoided appearing before the committee on a sensitive issue that had an effect on policy. It must be clearly indicated-----

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