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

I want to ask about three pieces of legislation but I also want to ask about a commitment made on Dáil reform in regard to the pre-legislative stage. There are a number of Bills which are still outstanding and which may be published before the end of the session. I ask that the heads of those Bills that have not been published but which were indicated in the A list would be published now so the committees could start the pre-legislative stage of those Bills.

The three pieces of legislation about which I want to ask include the official languages (amendment) Bill. Cathain a bhfuilimid chun é sin a fheiceáil agus an déileáilfidh sé leis an méid atá leagtha amach sa chlár? Chomh maith le sin, the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill is supposed to change the system from rent allowance, on which many people are suffering, to a housing assistance payment. It is long-awaited and I am trying to find out whether the expected date of 2014 will be complied with or whether there has been a delay.

I find it strange that the national paediatric hospital development board (amendment) Bill is on the section C list, which lists Bills where the heads have yet to be approved by Government. While we have heard of progress in respect of appointing CEOs and heads of development of that project and delays in respect of the national paediatric hospital, there is still no indication of when this legislation, which would oversee the development of a new national paediatric hospital, will be published. Can the Tánaiste enlighten us as to whether there has been any progress made on that important legislation?

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