Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I would like to ask the Taoiseach about two Bills. Before I do so, I would like to set out the logic of Sinn Féin's position. We genuinely want more time to discuss the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012. That is why we voted in favour of the proposal to provide for an additional hour this evening. We would like the Government to provide for more time to debate the Bill tomorrow and thereafter. I appeal to the Taoiseach to reconsider the proposition that the Government will apply a guillotine to the debate tomorrow. If that is what the Government intends to do, we will have to oppose it.

The first Bill I would like to ask about is that providing for the phased extension of the publicly funded general practitioner service without fees. The legislation in question was signalled for publication this year. It was indicated that it would be published in March. Since that failed to happen last month, we have not been given an indication of the timeframe for its introduction. Patients with long-term illnesses will be the first to be included in the phased extension of free general practitioner care for all. When can we expect the health (extension of eligibility for a GP service) Bill to be published?

The second Bill I would like to ask about is that providing for the abolition of the HSE board and the introduction of a replacement governance structure. It was to have been published in the spring session. We are now into the summer session. When will the HSE governance Bill be published?

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