Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I commend the Deputy on his dexterous attempt to introduce a supplementary question that has nothing whatever to do with the question. I cannot answer any speculation about that matter and I have no comment to make on it.

With regard to the question that was relevant, I stated previously in the House that the detail and scope of the legislation envisaged in the programme for Government has yet to be worked out; therefore, the commitment is to put the changes on a legislative basis. In the meantime, as with all commitments, the existing arrangements apply until the new arrangements are put in place, which will be during the remainder of the period covered by the programme for Government - that is, the next couple of years.

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