Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed to take No. 16, Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages, proceedings to be brought to a conclusion, if not previously concluded at 7 p.m. by one question from the Chair and which shall, in relation to the amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs; and No. 17, Driver Testing and Standards Authority Bill 2004 — Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the Dáil should sit later than 8.30 p.m.; and business will be adjourned for Private Members' business, No. 44, motion re investigation into the murder of Robert McCartney, which shall be taken for 90 minutes at 7 p.m., or on the conclusion of the debate on No. 16, whichever is the later.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are two proposals to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 16, Order for Report, Report and Final Stages of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005 agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' business agreed to? Agreed.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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When does the Taoiseach expect the alcohol products (control of advertising, sponsorship and marketing practices/sales promotions) Bill will be produced? The heads have been agreed, texts are being drafted and it is a matter of continuous concern as we move towards the early summer period where such advertising can present difficulties for young people.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of the Bill is to protect children and adolescents from over-exposure to alcohol advertising. The heads of the Bill have been approved for some time and the legislation is being drafted. My information is that the Bill will not be available until later this year.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I refer the Taoiseach to two ministerial orders on today's Order Paper, SI 86 and SI 87. Basically, they seek to extend the existing framework for decommissioning purposes. As the Taoiseach will recall, this was provided for in the Decommissioning Act 1997, immediately after the Good Friday Agreement. The regulations were made and were intended to comply with the commitment in the agreement that decommissioning would be completed within two years. Each year since the Taoiseach has extended them, in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and now the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, seeks to extend them again. I merely ask how this may be reconciled with the background against which this is being done, the attitude of the Minister, as articulated in the House and outside and whether it would not be more in keeping with the Government's position and more prudent in terms of the wider issue to allow the regulations to lapse. Then if the circumstances change, the regulations could be re-entered.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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As Deputy Rabbitte has said, we have extended the scheme, which arose from primary legislation in the two jurisdictions, at Westminster and here in the Oireachtas. We rolled over the regulations every year since in the hope that after three rounds of decommissioning we will achieve an end to the process, as we almost did in the discussions of 8 December. We are keeping those regulations in place in the hope that we may return to this issue again.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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I realise that decommissioning is quite narrowly confined in the context in which the Taoiseach has mentioned it. I want to ask about decommissioning as regards promised legislation that does not, on the face of it, seem to be as difficult as the Northern Ireland situation and the conflict on this island. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Bill has been promised as far back as 2001. I tried to ask the Taoiseach about this before but perhaps he can answer me now. There will be a review next May of the non-proliferation treaty, of which Ireland was the first signatory. Will that legislation be passed before May? It has been promised each year since 2001. It does not seem to be a controversial Bill and he should be able to give an indication that we can co-operate.

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

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Is it due after May? That is ridiculous.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Bill on business improvement districts is listed for publication in 2005. Given that there are major developments in places like Dundrum, Abbottstown and other areas, does the Taoiseach expect the Bill to be expedited? Is it necessary given the scale of developments that are taking place in some of these locations?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are 20 heads in this Bill which is being prepared for 2005.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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How soon will we see the details of the compensation scheme being devised to enable elderly people to get their money back? When will we see the Supplementary Estimate which is required to pay for it and which was promised by the Tánaiste? Is it a matter of concern that this scheme will be spun out as long as possible and that there will be undue delay?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Supreme Court only made its decision two weeks ago. We have to work out how we can operate the scheme and what categories it will cover. It is a complex job but it is receiving priority, not only in the Department but also with the Attorney General. There is a debate on the issue to follow.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Road Traffic Act 2004 provided for the privatisation of the administration of the fixed camera speeding fine system. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform recently announced that he intends to bring forward more legislation. When will that be due and what is in this proposed legislation?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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What is the name of the Bill?

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It deals with the privatisation of speed cameras.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have no legislation listed yet.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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For some time, I have asked the Taoiseach for a debate in the House on the related issues of house prices and building land as well as the various reports that have been published on it. The last time I asked him, he said he would talk to the Government Whip about it.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is there a debate on this?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Yes there is. I am asking about it again because I saw a report last week in which the Taoiseach spoke about doing a trade-off of State-owned land with private builders. I did not really understand what he had in mind. When will we have the debate on those reports on building land and house prices? Will he assure the House that we will have such a debate before there is a trade-off of State-owned land?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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We will certainly have a debate. Some of the areas for trade-off are already proceeding. They may not be completed, but I certainly know of one site advertised months ago where the negotiations have moved quite far. I cannot give the guarantee that it will not be completed before the debate.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Is that site on Harcourt Street?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Yes.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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No. 11 on the Order Paper is a motion on the approval of the terms of an agreement between the Government and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria on co-operation in combating illicit trafficking in drugs, money laundering, organised crime and other serious crime. When will the notice of motion be moved? Why is this agreement, which was made in February 2002, only now being brought forward for approval? Have recent events in Bulgaria stimulated the Government to table this notice of motion at this stage?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is three years since this was discussed. I do not know why it is being moved now. Negotiations were carried out a long time ago.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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When will it be taken?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is not listed. I imagine as soon as possible, so it can be cleared.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach should have a guess and mention a time.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Concern has been expressed on the need to modernised the Coroner's Court, especially with respect to bereaved families. When will the Coroners Bill be introduced to the House to provide reform of the coroners service?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is hoped to have this legislation in the House this year. It may be after summer but it is hoped to pass it in 2005.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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I asked a question two weeks ago and since then another EU member state has decided to hold a referendum on the EU constitution. Has the Taoiseach had discussions at Cabinet level on this? Has he dates in mind for the publication of the legislation that will enable a referendum? What is his preferred date for a referendum in this country?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Cabinet has not made that decision yet. We will discuss it with the leaders of the main Opposition parties.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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In view of the British general election in May——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise on the Order of Business.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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When that is over, our referendum will be caught in the crossfire of the British referendum. That would be inadvisable given the nature of the British tabloid press.