Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

The delivery of health and social services legislation is a matter I have raised, as has every other Member on the Opposition benches in recent months, with as much success as we have in changing the weather. We now must appeal to the Ceann Comhairle to use his influence, as president of this Chamber, to try to ensure that a number of Ministers, who are particularly recalcitrant, come into the House and address the issues they are supposed to address.

I have a question on a piece of legislation, in which the Ceann Comhairle might have an interest, regarding the transposition of various EU directives into Irish law. There are a number of such proposals on the legislative programme now which have been there for some time. I have asked questions about them in the House on the Order of Business. This seems to go on for ever and the Taoiseach gets bored when I ask the questions so I shall ask the following one again.

The publication of the proposal to transpose the EU framework directive on the European evidence warrant for obtaining objects, documents and data for use in criminal proceedings is expected in late 2010. When will that Bill be published? Has it been discussed at Cabinet or has any mention of it been made? Has any discussion taken place as to the possible relevance of-----

See this speech in context