Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

This is a process that will be undertaken. Those Bills will be taken when we are dealing with the finance Bill, which was completed last year on 6 April. The indicative timeframe at the moment is the end of February. Whether it is the end of February or the first week of March is a matter to be decided in terms of what work must be done. I have indicated that work must be done on civil partnerships to bring them into line with tax requirements by 1 April. As a matter of policy, that work must be done. It is being done and the finance Bill will be enacted at least one month sooner than was the case last year. Deputy Gilmore has been coming into this House for the past two years quite rightly asking about Bills. We are now in the process of finalising legislation and we should use the time available to us to do so.

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