Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

There is no problem with the legislative conveyor belt. I commend the Deputy opposite and his party on its industry in publishing its own Bills. It is useful that Bills are introduced by the Opposition and accepted by Government, which was not my experience when a Member on the opposite side of the House.

My Department is publishing Heads of Bills to go to Committee. I have already done this in respect of the whistleblowers legislation and will be doing so in respect of the freedom of information legislation. It is part of the programme for Government that we have preliminary debate at Heads of Bill level, which is something we might embrace through the committees.

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