Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The new Government is already different in that respect. It is a new departure for the Dáil to be back in session immediately following the formation of the Government. Previously, when new Governments were formed, there was generally a period of recess to allow them to prepare their legislative programmes and so forth. As the Deputy will be aware, some recesses lasted for a number of months. The Dáil is back in session immediately following the formation of this Government.

The Government has also restored to the Order Paper a list of Bills that can proceed straightaway. Individual Ministers have been asked to bring forward their legislative priorities in the coming weeks and I expect the Minister for Health will do so in the context of the legislation to which the Deputy Ó Caoláin referred. I will ask the Minister to respond directly to the Deputy on the issues he raises.

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