Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Will the Taoiseach indicate when we can expect publication of the Government's legislative programme outlining its legislative priorities? In that context, I note the programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a health levy on sugar sweetened drinks. Will the Taoiseach indicate when that will be introduced? The Taoiseach said it would be good to have a ring-fenced fund but we can make that happen if we want. The Taoiseach can legislate to have a hypothecated fund or a ring-fenced fund where a certain proportion of expenditure is set aside every year. We did it before for technology and for hepatitis C, and the Taoiseach can do it for this area of new drug technologies, or he can use a sugar tax. While the methodology can be worked out, the idea of a ring-fenced fund should be put into practice. Will the Taoiseach indicate when a sugar tax will be introduced?

In the Thirty-first Dáil there was a Bill on the B list to introduce legislation for assisted human reproduction. The programme for Government for the Thirty-second Dáil contains a commitment to introduce legislation on the regulation of surrogacy and assisted human reproduction services. Will the Taoiseach indicate if this Bill will be on the A list when the Government produces its legislative programme? The Minister for Health is beside the Taoiseach and he might be in a position to indicate how high up the list that is.

Last week I asked the Taoiseach about the cap that seems to have been put on the supply of home care packages and home helps, even though there is a commitment in the programme for Government to increase funding for same. In addition to increased waiting times for home care packages, there is also an increase in the number of people waiting for clearance for the fair deal scheme. At the end of April 2016 there were 603 waiting four weeks, which compares to 197 at the end of September 2015, when the average waiting time was two weeks. Clearly, something has happened over the last two months, as most Deputies in the House can confirm, not least the Deputies beside me. Someone needs to review the waiting times and the cap that is being put on this area of home care packages needs to be lifted. Will the Taoiseach indicate when those items in the programme for Government will be implemented?

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