Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The blasphemy issue has already been raised and it strikes me that the members of the Constitutional Convention will be very disappointed about this. They put in much work on these issues, as the Taoiseach knows; he has commended them on it. Given last week's horrific events in Paris, will the Taoiseach review his position on the blasphemy clause? In deference to the folks who cannot live in this State, will the Taoiseach consider the other matter? I apologise if I misquoted the Minister of State but it was reported in an Irish-American newspaper that he stated there would be a referendum to permit people outside the State to vote.

I also want to raise the Cabinet sub-committee, details of which were announced yesterday. It is a new sub-committee which will set out Government proposals to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising. When will the Government publish the remit for the sub-committee and will there be a transparent and accountable process in place? I witnessed a debacle at the GPO when the Taoiseach launched this initiative and there was much nonsense related to the video that was launched by the Government. Bad service was afforded to the Irish language and the signatories of the Proclamation.

They were not even mentioned in all of this. There is already an all-party Oireachtas consultation group on commemorations, so what will be the relationship with the new sub-committee of the Cabinet? Can we also ensure there will be an all-Ireland or, indeed, a wider approach with the diaspora because, as we know, the Rising was funded by Irish-America and many people in Liverpool, Glasgow and London. The Proclamation itself pays tribute to gallant allies abroad. Can there be an all-island or, indeed, a wider global view of this?

When will we hear about the development of what the Taoiseach described as the "laneways of history" in Moore Street? There is potential for a very fitting museum and an educational asset and for the redevelopment of the inner city and city centre, in particular the north inner city.

My last point deals with two very pertinent issues ar an clár reachtaíochta nua - the new legislative programme - which came out today. I refer to the public health (alcohol) Bill. There is a crisis around public health in regard to alcohol. In the previous session, this Bill was in section C and it is still in section C. The health information Bill, which is such a crucial issue and the subject of great controversy and concern, in particular for families of ill people and for patients themselves, was in section C in the last session and it is still in section C. These two Bills are vital to preventative measures which, if properly implemented, would reduce the number of patients spending long periods of time in our hospitals.

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