Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I have questions on three pieces of promised secondary legislation. The floods directive has to be transposed into Irish law and will make the Office of Public Works the competent authority for that. The Minister of State, Deputy Martin Mansergh, gave a commitment after Christmas that secondary legislation would be published and signed by the end of this month. Is it still the intention of the Government to have it signed by the end of the month? When will it be enacted? Will it give adequate powers to the Office of Public Works to deal, once and for all, with the flooding issue?

Last week, I raised with the Taoiseach plans, under the Planning and Development Act, to introduce a statutory instrument to remove the exemption from planning for head shops. The Taoiseach might have a response to that issue.

The third issue I raised last week concerns the draft statutory instrument under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The Taoiseach had indicated that three months' notification had been given to the Commission. I pointed out to him that, under Commission rules, where there is an issue on the ground of public health an immediate ban can be implemented. In light of the fact that many aspects of the proposed statutory instrument-----

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