Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I am not debating it. I am asking a question about promised legislation, which I am entitled to do. It is true that the committee took two years and three months, but the Government was a party to the committee. The Taoiseach makes it sound as if the Government was somehow separate. The heavy lifting was agreeing the wording, and that is done. Last night, the Minister of State acknowledged that there was no great difficulty with the wording. What is the delay?

On the mayoral issue, we were promised the election would occur in 2010. This was the commitment given by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley. If the election is to occur in 2010, the legislation will need to be dealt with. Do I understand correctly from the Taoiseach that it is unlikely the legislation will be in the House before the summer recess?

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