Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I understand that is generally the scheme about which the Minster has spoken and he wrote to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform during the month saying that he hopes to have the legislation enacted by the end of the year. What is his plan for the commencement and implementation date of that legislation? Many Bills have been enacted but never commenced.

Today we heard that the Taoiseach held formal talks with the tobacco industry. Some of the big asset sell-offs such as the part sale of Bord Gáis, the national lottery licence and the ESB stations about which we will talk for the next decade will happen or be under way before this legislation comes in. It looks as if the legislation is being delayed or not proceeding in advance of the sale of State assets. The legislation could have been brought in last year. It looks as if we will wait till the assets are sold off before bringing in the legislation so that people cannot influence major Government decisions after the fact.

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