Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There have been a number of announcements recently from the Minister for Social Protection, but having looked through the legislative programme, I cannot find any indication of where the next social welfare Bill is coming from to deal with her promise of doubling the State pension or increasing the minimum wage. Both of those would be welcome and if they were contained in the legislative programme. I encourage the Minister to fast-track those policies. Will they be included in a new legislative programme?

The previous Government and this Government have promised major legislation to deal with pensions and the pensions industry. Such a Bill does not seem to be contained in the legislative programme and I wonder when we will be able to get the heads of such a Bill at least. The gender recognition Bill was promised for earlier this year and it is now scheduled for next year. There was an indication to the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection that the heads of the Bill would be published and available for discussion in July this year. Will the Minister indicate when the heads of the Bill will be available for discussion in the committee?

Much fanfare accompanied last year's decision to locate the national paediatric hospital in the St. James's Hospital campus. When will the national paediatric hospital development board establishment order (amendment) Bill be published in order that we can have some certainty around plans to locate that hospital in the campus? As of yet, there is no board, planning permission or funding in place to proceed with that development or the possible development of a national maternity hospital on the site.

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