Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While I do not want to repeat the questions I asked during Leaders' Questions, what the Taoiseach proposes is inadequate. However, I will ask three questions on the Order of Business.

The criminal justice (spent convictions) Bill is a step in the right direction, because it allows for sentences of 12 months or less for certain types of offences to be considered spent. It has passed Committee Stage in the Dáil and All Stages in the Seanad. When is it expected to go to Report Stage and will it be enacted by summer?

Two years ago, the Government published proposals to replace the current television licence fee with a public service broadcasting charge. We were told it would be a blanket levy on every household, even those with no television, and would come into effect at the beginning of this year. Now, we have been advised that, because of the impending election and the uproar over water charges and property taxes, it is to be postponed. Given that we get much of our information from the media, much of which could be inaccurate, can the Taoiseach confirm when the broadcast charge will be introduced and when the broadcasting (amendment) Bill will be published?

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