Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)

I thank the Minister. However, I do not understand how his predecessor, the current Minister for Finance, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, who is perfectly competent and able, was in a position to tell the Dáil a year ago that the heads of Bill was almost ready to be published and he was hoping to bring it to Government very shortly. How was it possible for Deputy Donohoe to do that a year ago only for the Minister to now come into the House to say there is a whole load of other work that needs to be done?

The review by his Department was concluded more than two years ago. Some of these issues have been going on for years. We have 42 public bodies that are not covered by the ethics legislation because the regulations have not been updated in years. How can the Minister stand over that? How can he stand over 42 public bodies not covered by the ethics legislation? Deputy Chambers is the Minister with responsibility for this. Will he not deal with this urgently and how is it that he is way behind where his colleague, Deputy Donohoe, was a year ago?

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