Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the proposal for dealing with No. 21, the conclusion of statements on the national wage agreement agreed?

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Are the statements intended to be part of a commitment in the agreement to engage with the political process? A line in the agreement states that the parties involved will meet with the political process. Does this refer to the parties in opposition as well as those in government? Are these statements an enactment of that proposal or is there another dimension to it and do these statements stand alone, nothing more and nothing less?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The fact that we will be making statements on it will mean we will be engaging with that. However, as I outlined here recently, the Seanad will debate more of the interim reports of the social partnership process, and committees of the House already do so. I hope that it is all part of that. People want to make brief statements on it before the end of the session. We already had a debate on it in the Seanad.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the proposal agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 3, conclusion of Second and Subsequent Stages of the Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006, agreed?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is not agreed. This is not the way to do business. We have awaited this Bill for a long time and, on the second last day of the Dáil session, I object to all Stages being taken in this way. The Government Whip is aware of our difficulty in doing business in this way. It has nothing to do with the Bill. This is not the way to order business.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Government has been preparing this Bill for approximately three years. I have a copy of the Dáil schedule for the spring session 2004, which promised publication of the Bill by Easter 2004. The Bill was not published until three weeks ago and the Government now proposes to allow approximately two hours to put it through all Stages in the House late tonight. It is complex legislation that provides for two separate sets of rules for two different building societies and requires considerably more scrutiny by the House than two hours would allow this evening. If it is put through in two hours this evening, it could come back to haunt the promoters.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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This Bill is rushed to the point of being reckless. Given the subject matter and the small number of individuals who will be affected directly by the legislation, I do not understand why it must take precedence over other urgent legislation and why it must be rushed before the recess. I have not been given reasons for doing so that stand up. I therefore object to it being rushed tonight.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Sinn Féin cannot agree to the proposal to guillotine all Stages of the Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006. This Bill will provide for the demutualisation of a number of building societies, including the Irish Nationwide Building Society. We are very cognisant of the concerns of many people who have had experience of the regime operated by the management of that building society throughout the years. We need proper Committee and Report Stages to address all the import of this legislation, which cannot be accommodated in the time afforded this evening. Accordingly, I record our opposition and request that it be removed from the guillotine process today.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Given that we are witnessing the making of law by the Executive rather than by Parliament and to keep Deputy Davern out of harm's way, as a teller, under Standing Order 69 I propose that the vote be taken by other than electronic means.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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As Deputy Stagg is a Whip, under Standing Order 69 he is entitled to call a vote through the lobby.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the proposal for dealing with No. 1a, the Criminal Justice Bill 2004 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 2, the conclusion of the National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002 agreed? Agreed.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the written judgment on the Mr. A case from the Supreme Court will be published on Monday. The Sullivan report, the internal inquiry into the breakdown in communications between the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General, is imminent. Both will appear after the Dáil is in summer recess. Some Deputies in the Opposition want the committee being set up, which has been agreed in principle, to have an opportunity to discuss the Sullivan report to learn from it. I have no intention of turning it into a Star Chamber where one can call the Attorney General or the DPP. Is the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform willing to concede that? Arising from a serious constitutional crisis, it is important that we find out, based on the Sullivan report, what happened and what went wrong. Would the Taoiseach like the select committee to discuss that report? Will we be asking the Government Chief Whip to schedule a debate in the House in the autumn? I would prefer if the matter could be dealt with by the select committee.

Will the medical practitioners Bill be published in late 2006? Is the education Ireland Bill dealing with teaching English to students as a foreign language, due for publication in late 2006?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The medical practitioners Bill is due later this year and the education Ireland Bill is due early next year.

I have not kept abreast of committee discussions but have endeavoured to ensure the Sullivan report will be published tonight or tomorrow. I have no difficulty with people raising this issue. I do not think there is anything in the report that will have a bearing on matters, other than that I hope some lessons will be learned from it.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to hear the Taoiseach state that.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot have a debate on it now.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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We are not having a debate on it.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Chair has been generous and a number of Deputies are offering.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I hope the committee will be able to deal with the report.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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On a point of order, the Ceann Comhairle has indicated he will not allow Members other than party leaders raise——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I did not indicate any such thing.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I am delighted to hear that.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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I am glad to hear that.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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At 1 p.m. the Chair intends to move on to the next business.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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For the past few days, on the Order of Business, the Ceann Comhairle has done this and denied Deputies——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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If Deputy Stagg reads Standing Order 26——

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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I will not be shouted down on this point.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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——it is entirely at the discretion of the Chair. Not one of my predecessors allowed so many people to raise issues on the Order of Business.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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On the second last day of the session, this is the only opportunity Members other than the Front Bench have of raising matters in the House.

Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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The Opposition has wasted time with votes.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Members have continuously——

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Is the Ceann Comhairle objecting to votes in the House? Is the Ceann Comhairle stating that we will be punished for voting?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, Deputy, I did not say I would punish you.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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That is what you are doing. If we have divisions in the House, ordinary Members will be punished by denial of the right to raise issues on the Order of Business that are in order.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is not what I am saying.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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When my turn comes, I wish to raise a matter concerning legislation but you indicated you will not allow it. Many other Members have indicated they would like to do likewise.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will if Deputy Stagg's turn comes before 1 p.m. Please allow Deputy Rabbitte to speak.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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I want an indication that the Ceann Comhairle will allow us to raise matters.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I suggest Deputy Stagg read Standing Orders. If he is not satisfied with Standing Orders he can try to change them.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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I am quite happy with Standing Orders and with the precedent in the House that Members——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Rabbitte.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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——are entitled to ask about promised legislation on the Order of Business.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The precedent of the House is that the Chair calls two or three Members. That has happened for the past 50 years.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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You are denying us that right because we called a vote. That is the reason.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is not because you called a vote.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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What is the reason?

Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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They are wasting time.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The reason is that I must take account of the length of time we are in the House, even if there had not been a vote this morning.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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We can sit next week. There is no shortage of time.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Rabbitte has been called. The House has just voted to move on to its business because Members wanted more time to discuss amendments. The Deputy cannot have it both ways. I call Deputy Rabbitte.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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My colleague, Deputy Howlin, advised me yesterday that he had been informally told that the O'Sullivan report was completed. The Taoiseach has confirmed that and that he has read it. Given that the issue convulsed the country, most people will find it difficult to understand how we can shut down the Dáil without an opportunity to discuss it. Will the Taoiseach confirm that he will make the report available to the spokespersons on justice so they will have an opportunity to reflect on it before the Order of Business tomorrow?

Does the Government intend to take action to deal with the fact that 12,000 senior citizens, recently retired, have been advised that they will have to wait three months before they get their pension entitlements?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise on the Order of Business. It is a matter for a line Minister.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Three and a half months.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Four months.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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How are these people, some of whom will be in serious distress, supposed to live in the interim?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a matter for the line Minister.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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It is a matter for the Government.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is a matter for the line Minister. The Taoiseach, on the first question.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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On the first question, as I said yesterday, I am endeavouring to get the report out as quickly as possible.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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What does that mean?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I answered that yesterday.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Extracts of the Carey report were leaked to the national media last week. What is the Government's position with regard to that report into the tragic death of Pat Joe Walsh at Monaghan General Hospital?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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That report has not been published because of legal issues.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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When will it happen?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not know.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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When will legislation be introduced to remove the bar on pharmacists who got their qualifications in other EU countries practising in Ireland? I refer to the pharmacy Bill. The current situation has led to restrictions and some pharmacists cannot practise in Ireland as a result.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It will be later this year.

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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When is the legislation to give corporate status to the Voluntary Health Insurance board likely to be published?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is listed for late 2006. The heads of the Bill have been approved.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Will the Taoiseach consider, on tomorrow's Order of Business, allowing the Dáil to sit a further week so the Sullivan report and other important matters can be dealt with? Yesterday I asked the Taoiseach what would be the title of the legislation to implement the recommendations of the Kenny report. Does he have a name for the Bill? Will it be called the price of land suitable for building Bill or the control of speculators Bill?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have the name of the Bill but it will try to implement the recommendations of the all-party committee report.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Is the Taoiseach aware of an anomaly caused by a ban on the employment of staff nurses in some HSE areas and a resulting reduction in agency nurses of 25%?

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

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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This relates to promised legislation, the nurses and midwives Bill, and it is causing particular difficulty in Portlaoise and Tullamore hospitals.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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That legislation is due in 2007.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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With regard to the Aer Lingus Act, the Taoiseach has said on a number of occasions that part of the proceeds from the sale of Aer Lingus will be used to make up the shortfall in the staff pension fund. It now transpires, following publication of the general principles yesterday——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Has the Deputy a question on legislation?

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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——that the Government has no intention of doing that and that it will leave the pensioners high and dry.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Broughan.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Does the Taoiseach wish to avail of this opportunity to correct the record of the House?

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

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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He made that statement on a number of occasions.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Broughan.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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A Cheann Comhairle, we were assured by the Taoiseach that the pensioners in Aer Lingus would be looked after. It now transpires that this will not happen.

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

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Government is going to take the money and run.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should submit a question to the line Minister.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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It is a matter for the record of the House. The Taoiseach said that a number of times and I am asking if he wishes to correct the record.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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It will be debated in the House tomorrow when there will be a motion before the House.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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It is a matter of the Taoiseach misleading the House.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Shortall is correct that I said the pensions issue is part of the principles of the Bill and the Minister will outline that tomorrow. Pensions will be part of it.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach said the proceeds would be used to make up the shortfall in the pension fund.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Broughan.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach has given that assurance——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot have a debate on it now.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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——and he is now reneging on it.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am not.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach has misled the House on that, as well as the pensioners and the staff.

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Shortall is attempting to mislead the House.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Broughan. Deputy Shortall should resume her seat.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Did the Taoiseach do that deliberately? He has made false statements——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy must withdraw that remark.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach has misled the House.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy must withdraw the remark unequivocally.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I will withdraw it if the Taoiseach corrects the record.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy must withdraw the remark unequivocally or leave the House.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I withdraw it, but——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Broughan.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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——it is true.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I have a question for the Chair first before my question for the Taoiseach. A Cheann Comhairle, you ruled out of order a tranche of questions, as you sometimes do, relating to the communications portfolio and specifically one question on arrears owed to——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is not relevant to the Order of Business.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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The post office network is the responsibility of that Minister.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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If the Deputy wishes to resubmit the questions to my office, I will look at them this afternoon.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I will resubmit that question. My question to the Taoiseach relates to the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. Last week the clár for the Dáil stated that there would be a motion before the House yesterday. I took that to mean a tranche of amendments for the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which we are due to discuss next week on Committee Stage. Will the Bill be dealt with on Committee Stage or will the Minister produce a new Bill in October?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It will be discussed on Committee Stage next week. There is no new Bill.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Durkan.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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A Cheann Comhairle, I have been trying to speak for ten minutes. I signalled to the Chair ten minutes ago.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Durkan.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I received a considerable amount of correspondence from the Ceann Comhairle's office in the past 24 hours. I am always delighted to get such communications but was it really necessary to write to me 36 times to tell me about the issues that were not relevant to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources? It is a good job I had put down 37 questions.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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It does not arise on the Order of Business. If the Deputy wishes, he can come to my office and I will be glad to discuss them with him. I call Deputy Connolly.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I have been a Member of the House almost as long as the Ceann Comhairle and I am as good a judge as to what is or is not relevant as any other Member of the House. I have never previously seen Question Time emasculated to the extent that the Minister is not responsible for anything and does not have to answer for anything——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy cannot raise that matter now.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I am raising it now. You always say you have no control over the Minister's replies——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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This House passed the legislation that transferred responsibility.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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——but if we are not allowed to ask the questions, we can get nowhere. I wish to lodge the strongest possible protest at this. A total of 36 questions have been ruled out of order and other questions have been decimated and emasculated. The Minister should be ashamed of himself.

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I do not disallow them.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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You should be ashamed of yourself.

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Try asking a few relevant questions.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Are you totally irresponsible? Are you responsible for anything? It is no wonder the system is running so badly.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am delighted to inform Deputy Durkan that the number of questions submitted and answered is at an all-time high.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I am not surprised.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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There were over 43,000 parliamentary questions last year. I am equally delighted to inform him that a smaller percentage of questions are refused now than ever before. I call Deputy Connolly.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I must get them all then.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should be more careful when submitting his questions.

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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You get the golden boot.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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I wish to ask the Taoiseach about a report which was promised last December. We were assured it would be put into the public domain but it has been leaked because some people were given a view of it. I ask that the Walsh family be apprised of the contents of the report before further leaks occur.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That has already been addressed.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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The issue was leaked into the public domain by those I have mentioned.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That was dealt with this morning.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Will the Walsh family be briefed?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I wish the report could be fully published.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Could the family be briefed on it?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will raise that point with the Tánaiste but she does not have a report. There are now legal battles.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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This is developing in a way that is distasteful to the family.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I agree.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I wish to raise two Bills, the defamation Bill, which I have long advocated, and the privacy Bill, about which I have considerable reservations because they are driven more by efforts to spancel media comment on ministerial misdemeanours than by anxiety to protect the public interest.

Two issues arise on these Bills. When will they be circulated? The Minister announced them at a press conference yesterday, in breach of parliamentary procedures. I understood that Bills must be circulated within the Houses before they could be announced outside. That should be considered at this afternoon's meeting of the CPP. Were these Bills announced without Cabinet approval and, if not, when was Cabinet approval given?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The press conference to announce the Bills took place yesterday and they have been approved by Cabinet. Considerable work was done on these Bills at Cabinet in the past year. The Bills are being circulated in the normal way, if they have not already been circulated — the text has been available. I have no control over when Bills are circulated but the Cabinet approved the text and the Bills would have gone to the office in the normal way.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Drafts were sent around by e-mail last night and it was clearly stated that the text would form the basis of the Bills which the Minister will present. It was also stated that the attached text was not definitive and may be subject to change. That was what we received last night after the press conference. I have still not seen a Bill circulated in the House in the normal fashion. What is going on?

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Surely the Deputy does not expect the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to consult the Taoiseach on an issue?

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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There are rules, processes and procedures, as the Ceann Comhairle knows.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has pointed out that he intends to ask his Whip to bring the matter to the attention of the CPP.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I want the Ceann Comhairle to deal with this. I also want to know when the Bills will be circulated in the normal way.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that they are being circulated in the normal way.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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I asked the Taoiseach last week about secondary legislation under which the Minister for Education and Science would sign the necessary statutory instruments to bring into force the section of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 that will make mandatory the provision of individual education programmes for children with learning difficulties, but I got no answer to that question.

I had hoped the Irish abroad would have television coverage of the all-Ireland hurling and football finals this year following the enactment of the broadcasting Bill. When will that Bill be brought before the House?

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving in to the pressure from Members to allow normal questions on the Order of Business.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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To be absolutely clear, it is entirely at the discretion of the Chair, there is no divine right.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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The Ceann Comhairle had no notion of doing it until we kicked up.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The broadcasting Bill is undergoing the consultation process we agreed so it will probably appear in 2007. I asked the Department of Education and Science to supply the details to the Deputy so I apologise that he has not yet received an answer to that question. I will ask again for them today.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I asked some months ago about the charities regulation Bill. It was promised in the last session and this session. Will the Taoiseach give an undertaking that it will be included in the priority listing for the next session? The Taoiseach has stated that it is complex legislation but I would appreciate if it was published and debated because it is of some importance.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Bill has priority for drafting. It is a long Bill but we hope to publish it in the autumn.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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The full enactment of the Official Languages Act 2003 is imminent and the scheme from the Department of the Taoiseach has long since been accepted. Will the Taoiseach explain why there is not a single reference to the Irish language in the ten-year social partnership draft agreement?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise on the Order of Business. A debate on the agreement is coming up soon.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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This is a ten-year plan without a single word about the Irish language in it.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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There will be a debate on the agreement.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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We will go on a long holiday tomorrow and we will be leaving behind two permanent residents who are protesting outside the gates and another person who travels hundreds of miles to protest each week. Now this man's daughter is travelling from Northern Ireland to protest with him.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise on the Order of Business. The Deputy must find another way to raise the issue.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There is special legislation before the House today on building societies. There is a long-standing issue on the credit unions and their capacity to lend money for housing and home improvements.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy can raise that issue when the Bill comes before the House.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Minister promised that this issue would be considered for reform. This is important to thousands of members of credit unions.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will bring the Deputy's views to the Minister's attention.