Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We should commend you on your initiative, a Cheann Comhairle, and we will take on board the advice you have given us.

My first question is on the health care initiatives Bill, which proposes to allow the HSE to establish a number of companies and subsidiaries. At the same time as that Bill is on the legislative programme, there is also a Bill proposing the disestablishment of the HSE. Will the Tánaiste outline the position regarding those two proposed legislative measures? It is particularly important, not least in the context of Bord Gáis and its establishment of Uisce Éireann. The Oireachtas must be in a position to ask the right questions in order that we can, we hope, get the right answers in this area.

When can we expect the proposed Seanad electoral (university members)(amendment) Bill? The Tánaiste will be aware that the Taoiseach, in the aftermath of the unsuccessful referendum, indicated that the Government had got a wallop for its proposal. Is this legislation the totality of what is proposed by the Government at this stage in terms of reform of the Seanad?

I refer to matters in the defence area. Three legislative measures are promised in the A, B and C list. The defence (amendment) (discipline) Bill is on the B list, but no date has been given for its publication. There are two Bills on the C list, the defence (amendment) Bill, which proposes to amend the 2006 Act, and the Red Cross (amendment) Bill. It is proposed to publish both of those sometime in 2015. My concern is that one legislative measure emanating from the Department of Defence has no date for publication while it appears that the other two are deferred until 2015. The Minister for Justice and Equality, who is also the Minister for Defence, appears to be inordinately busy in the justice area and appears, perhaps, not to have the time that is necessary to devote to the Department of Defence. Would the Tánaiste share my concern about that?

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