Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed to take No. 10a, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Elections (Amendment) Regulations 2005; No. 1, Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002 — amendments from the Seanad; No. 18, Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004 — Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; and No. 17, Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]— Second Stage (resumed).

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 10a shall be decided without debate. Private Members' business shall be No. 43, motion re education, special needs, autism and class sizes (resumed) to conclude at 8.30 p.m.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is one proposal to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 10a, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Elections (Amendment) Regulations 2005, agreed?

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Níl sé aontaithe.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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May I ask the Taoiseach the reason the date of 2 April was chosen? I know the Taoiseach said it was a little cold for canvassing the other day in Meath.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It was freezing.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I understand that. Where I come from we do not feel that cold.

Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Certainly all along the north east——

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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All the natives thought it was very cold.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Whoever fixed the date of the elections for 2 April did not appreciate that the Easter campaign comes just before it. Obviously, the Taoiseach will be dispensing his parliamentary members, after a heavy defeat in Meath and Kildare, to the outermost fringes of the country to the Gaeltacht areas. Why was the date of 2 April chosen?

Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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The last date set was very successful.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Is that a statutory date by which the elections must be held or was it chosen at random?

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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: Níl an Comhaontas Glas ag glacadh leis seo gan díospóireacht. Is mionphoínte é seo de réir an Aire ach ní mhionphointe é de réir muintir na Gaeltachta go mbeidh athrú suntasach le haghaidh iarrathóirí a bheidh ar lorg suíochán ar Údarás na Gaeltachta. Anois beidh baint le páirtí luaite, rud nach raibh i gceist go dtí seo. Is tús é ar athrú eile a bheidh ag cur isteach ar údaráis eile ar nós an IDA agus a leithéid. Is tráidisiún é nach mbeidh an t-údarás gafa leis an leibhéal céanna polaitíochta. Tá an tAire ag athrú sin agus tá gá le díospóireacht leis seo mar is athrú suntasach é.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Tá mé i gcoinne an rúin seo a rith gan díospóireacht mar tá athraithe bunúsacha i gceist san reachtaíocht. Ba chóir go mbeadh an toghchán i mí Aibreán ach tá na hathraithe bunúsacha atá sa dréacht ag tarraingt siar ón stair a bhí i dtoghcháin údaráis agus ag bogadh i dtreo toghchánaíocht páirtí polaitiúil mar go mbeadh ar dhaoine aimniúchán a fháil mura bhainfeadh siad le páirtí polaitiúil, chaithfeadh siad 15 ainm a fháil.

Tá athrú bunúsach eile i gceist ag an Aire atá ag ísliú an choisc ar chanbhasáil ó 100 méadar ón staisiún vótála go dtí 50 méadar. Is i malairt threo a ba chóir a bheith ag dul, ag cur leis an chosc go dtí 200 méadar seachas atá ráite sa dréacht a fuair muid.

Tá mise agus mo pháirtí ag cur i gcoinne an rúin seo a bheith curtha gan díospóireacht.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Aontaím leis an dearcadh atá curtha i láthair ag na Teachtaí eile. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh díospóireacht de chineál éigin mar go bhfuil athrú bunúsach ar thoghchán an údaráis. Go dtí seo, ní raibh páirtithe polaitíochta ainmnithe mar a bheidh as seo amach. Sin an chéad chúis.

An dara cúis, agus b'fhéidir go ndéanfadh an Tí seo soiléiriú air, sin an laghdúó 100 méadar go dtí 50 méadar ar an achar gur féidir le daoine bheith ag canbhasáil agus ag déanamh bolscoireachta taobh amuigh den bhothán vótaíochta. An bhfuil sin mar an gcéanna le gach toghchán eile nó an rud eisceachtúil seo a bhaineann leis an údarás?

Ba chóir go mbeadh díospóireacht ann mar is athrú bunúsach é seo ar choincheap Údarás na Gaeltachta a bhí neamhpholaitiúil.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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An fáth gur roghnaíodh 2 Aibréan ná go gcaithfidh an toghchán a bheith ann cúig bhliain agus sé mhí tar éis an chinn deiridh. Bhí an ceann deiridh mí na Nollag 1999 agus caithfidh sé a bheith idir mí na Nollag agus mí an Mheithimh. Bhí seo pléite agam go poiblí le pobal na Gaeltachta agus na baill údaráis agus aontaíodh go mbeadh sé in earrach na bliana seo. D'fhógair mé sin cúig bhliain ó shin. Shíl mé go mb'fhearr fanacht go dtí tar éis athrú an ama — ní raibh mé anuas ar an bhFreasúra, shíl mé go mba cheart deis a thabhairt do dhaoine canbhasáil agus na oícheanta fada acu.

Roghnaíodh an Satharn mar bhí sé ar an Satharn cheana agus thaitinn sé leis an bpobal. Pobal scaipthe atá i gceist agus bíonn go leor acu ag obair agus ag staidéar i mBaile Átha Cliath agus áiteanna eile. Tugann seo deis dóibh dhul abhaile d'áiteanna nach mbeadh siad in ann a dhul más tráthnóna De hAoine a bheadh ann don toghchán mar bheadh fadhb fáil amach as an gcathair agus bheith sa mbaile roimh 9 p.m. ar an Aoine. Feileann an Satharn leis seo.

Ó 1979, b'é an fíorscéal gur theastaigh na daoine páirtithe éagsúla a chur ar na postaeir ach nuair a chuaigh daoine isteach ag breathnú ar an bpáipéar ballóide, ní raibh ainm aon pháirtí ar an bpáipéar ballóide. Tá sé in am fáil réidh leis an bhfinnscéal agus an fhírinne a admháil — go mbíonn daoine ag seasamh do na páirtithe. Bhíéagóir á dhéanamh ar pháirtithe polaitiúla agus daoine a bhí ag seasamh leo gurbh é seo an t-aon toghchán amháin nach raibh ainm an pháirtí sofheicthe ar an bpáipéar.

Ní shin le rá nuair a thoghfar an bord nach mbeidh comhoibriú idir na baill. Nach bhfuil Fine Gael tar éis coinbhinsiún a reáchtáil? Níl a fhios agam faoi Sinn Féin, níl aon iarrathóir aige i gCiarraí ach tá i gConamara. Glacaim go bhfuil iarrathóirí ag an gComhaontas Glas agus go mbeidh siad ag seasamh ag coinbhinsiún de chuid an Chomhaontais Ghlais agus go n-ainmneofar ansin iad agus go mbeidh logo an pháirtí ar na postaeir. Tá rud éigin míréalaíoch go mbeadh chuile duine ag dul thart ag cur ainm na bpáirtithe ar na postaeir agus nach mbeadh siad le feiceáil ar an bpáipéar ballóide. Finnscéal atá ann agus sin an fáth gur cuireadh na leasaithe sin air.

An leasú deireannach a luadh an 50 méadar. Sin a bhí ann ag na toghcháin do na húdaráis aitiúla agus ní hathrú an suntasach atá i gceist i dtaobh an údaráis.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Supreme Court decision in respect of charges levied against public patients has generated considerable interest. When does the Taoiseach expect the sub-committee, which he will probably chair, to meet? In view of the number of queries Members are receiving from next of kin and others, will there be a point of contact to which persons who believe they have a legitimate claim to have a charge paid back to them or their estate can send information? Will information be supplied as to the extent of proof required? When does the Taoiseach expect legislation to come before the House to deal with the element which the Supreme Court deemed to be constitutional?

Has an investigation been carried out into the destruction caused at the national aquatic centre by a storm?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The matter does not arise on the Order of Business. I suggest the Deputy submit a question to the line Minister.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Could I fit in a question under the Abbotstown Sports Campus Development Authority Bill? The same wind which blew over this publicly-funded building blew over many private buildings without causing any destruction. It is extraordinary that a building of such cost and size should be damaged in such a way.

With regard to the Transport Reform Bill, is the Minister for Transport, who is not present, serious about announcing a rail link to Navan in the next three weeks. He stated he was closing in on——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The matter does not arise on the Order of Business. The House cannot discuss the content of legislation at this stage.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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A Cheann Comhairle, many years ago you told me to name some kind of a Bill and then ask a question.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy may ask about legislation coming before the House but not its content.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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On the first matter, the Cabinet sub-committee is looking at this issue and we have had advice from the Attorney General. We discussed the matter yesterday and received a report from the Tánaiste who answered questions on the issue in the House yesterday. We will move ahead on the issues. The Deputy will appreciate there are many complex issues and questions about the categories and we will have to work our way through them. It will take some time before we get to legislation. We will have to work on the handling of the various categories that have been identified in the Supreme Court judgment, based on what the Tánaiste said in the House on Leaders' Questions yesterday.

The Abbotstown Bill will be taken this session. There is an examination of what happened around those issues and the official there has made some statements about this. The transport programme will be announced today.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I assume the Government is proceeding with its commitment to have the "yellow pack" medical cards available on 1 April. The timeframe for the enactment of legislation is tight. When will it be brought before the House?

With regard to another matter of some urgency, which has arisen due to constant reports of abuse of the current work permits legislation, new work permits legislation was promised for this session. When will it come before the House?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaiste is answerable for the legislation giving tens of thousands of people free access to GPs and is working on it as a matter of urgency so that people will be able to get these medical cards, which are important for their health, in the month of April. The work permits legislation is due this session.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Will the amended nursing home legislation take into account relatively young people who have been affected by the Supreme Court decision for other reasons and to whom pension books do not apply? What is the scope of the legislation and when will it be published?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The question is not appropriate at this stage and should be directed to the line Minister.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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I am seeking information on promised legislation.

My second question relates to the Curragh of Kildare Bill, which was raised with me while canvassing with Councillor J. J. Power in Naas last night. Although the Curragh is not in Kildare North, it is of relevance to many people in Naas. When will the legislation be published?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Curragh of Kildare Bill will be published in the summer.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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In view of the Taoiseach's plans for an M50 Mark II and the fact that the cost per kilometre of the current M50 is running at about €60 million——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Does the Deputy have a question appropriate to the Order of Business?

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I do. It is envisaged that this road will cost €4.2 billion. Is there any sign of a strategic infrastructure Bill, which is now critical?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Work on that legislation is advancing and the Government hopes to conclude it shortly for introduction during the year.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Following yesterday's report on the frequency of collisions between Luas trams and other vehicles, what is the reason for the delay in the Railway Safety Bill 2001, which completed Committee Stage more than two years ago?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will ask the Minister why this Bill has not been brought forward. It is ordered for Report Stage.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Yesterday, I asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, if legislation is intended to address the disparities in regard to the practice of ECT for patients in mental hospitals, and other related matters. Her reply referred to the medical practitioners Bill. Is legislation being prepared to address the use of ECT and the other disparities that exist in regard to addressing the needs of patients with mental health issues?

Second, in which session is it intended that the promised pharmacy Bill will be published?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The medical practitioners Bill will be published later this year. I do not know if the issues identified by Deputy Ó Caoláin will be covered by the provisions of this legislation, but will ask the Department of Health and Children to communicate with the Deputy on this matter.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Taoiseach answer my second question?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Ó Caoláin should submit a question to the line Minister. Questions about the content of a Bill are not appropriate to the Order of Business.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach has indicated he will answer my question about the pharmacy Bill.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The pharmacy Bill is due later this year.