Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed to take No. 11, Supplementary Estimates for Public Services — Votes 19 to 22, inclusive, 26, 27, 32, 37, 38, 40 and 41, back from committee; and No. 2, Health Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed) and Subsequent Stages. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 4.45 p.m., that business shall be interrupted not later than 7.45 p.m. and that the sitting shall be suspended from 1.30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

In the case of No. 11, it is proposed that the Supplementary Estimates — Votes 19 to 22, inclusive, 26, 27, 32, 37, 38, 40 and 41- shall be moved together and decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair, that the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 30 minutes, that any division demanded thereon shall be taken forthwith, and that speeches shall be confined to a Minister or Minister of State and to the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party, who shall be called upon in that order and may share time, and which shall not exceed ten minutes in each case.

In the case of No. 2, it is proposed that the proceedings on the resumed Second Stage shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 1.30 p.m. and that the proceedings on Committee and Remaining Stages shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 6.30 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in regard to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Health and Children.

Question Time shall be taken at 6.30 p.m. for 75 minutes. In the event of a private notice question being allowed, it shall be taken after 45 minutes and the order shall not resume thereafter

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are four proposals before the House. Is the proposal that the Dáil shall sit later than 4.45 p.m. agreed to? Agreed.

Is the proposal for dealing with No. 11, Supplementary Estimates for Public Services, agreed to?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Before agreeing to this, I would like to hear from the Tánaiste about the cutbacks in public spending programmes promised by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance. Arising from the state of the public finances, it seems all Ministers are making a list and checking it twice before Christmas. Will we be told what is on those lists or will we wake up some morning during the Christmas recess to find it in our morning newspaper?

Johnny Brady (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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We will find out who is naughty or nice.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Before we agree to the taking of these departmental Estimates, it would be helpful if the Tánaiste would tell the House when and how the further expected cutbacks will be announced.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I heard on the news today that the Government has approved a €180 million package to get the pig industry going again. Will there be a Supplementary Estimate for this year to meet the cost of that? How is it intended to fund it, whether from general taxpayers' resources or through a levy on the sector? Will there be an opportunity for the multiple systems failures that have been exposed in this case to be thoroughly investigated, preferably by the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is not Question Time and we do not have Leaders' Questions today.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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This relates to money that——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We all know well that we are dealing with a narrow proposal before the House.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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There will be a discussion on the Supplementary Estimates that are before the House. Deputy Gilmore's question is not relevant and there are no lists.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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It is entirely relevant.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is not. In regard to the Estimate for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, it is proposed that it will be taken next Wednesday. As the Minister has stated publicly, there will be a full investigation into the matters arising as a consequence of what happened last week.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the proposal for dealing with No. 11, Supplementary Estimates for Public Services, agreed to? Agreed.

Is the proposal for dealing with No. 2, Health Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed) and Subsequent Stages, agreed to?

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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This is not agreed. This proposal was probably the most controversial element of the budget that was introduced two months ago. We assumed the Minister for Health and Children would be in a position to introduce legislation at an early date and allow Members on all sides of the House to debate it thoroughly. Instead, the legislation has been introduced at the very last minute, with Second Stage beginning only yesterday. There will be no gap between Second Stage and Committee Stage, as is traditional to allow Deputies to table amendments. Many speakers are being denied the opportunity to speak on the legislation. It is simply unacceptable that major policy changes of this nature are rammed through on a guillotine. If people had their say, the guillotine would be applied to the necks of the 15 Ministers who sat around the Cabinet table and approved this proposal.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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The Labour Party also objects to the guillotine on Second Stage and on the Committee and remaining Stages of this legislation. A large number of Deputies would like the opportunity to express their views on the withdrawal of medical cards from pensioners in the run up to Christmas, following the mean-spirited measure in the budget. We strongly object to the guillotine. We submitted amendments and objections to every section of the Bill and the Minister has put down amendments too. Adequate time will be required to discuss this. I agree with Deputy Bruton. Several hundred thousand pensioners would probably line up to pull the lever on that guillotine.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I also object to the guillotine being applied to the so-called Health Bill today on Second Stage and on Final Stage, which is scheduled for 6.30 p.m. The withdrawal of the automatic entitlement to a medical card for the over 70s is clearly an attack on senior citizens. The Government has responsibility to explain how general practitioners were being paid for 10,000 patients who were no longer alive at a rate of €690 per individual on the general practitioners' lists. That is a list that should have been checked twice. That amounted to €6.9 million of public money squandered, almost the entire amount that the Minister claims this measure was designed to save. Better administration of the health services would have secured the saving required rather than putting senior citizens through this pain and anguish and leaving a significant section of them outside the loop of entitlement in the future. Shame on the Government and on the health service.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose the order.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the proposal for dealing with Question Time agreed to? Agreed.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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It is two and a half months since the Government intervened in the banking crisis to provide guarantees for depositors. As the Minister will be aware, credit has effectively dried up for many small businesses in the intervening period and sound businesses are going to the wall for lack of credit. Proposals have been made to extend the guarantee to longer term deposits to allow banks to continue. Will proposals emerge from the Government before the Dáil goes into recess? The fear among many people around the House——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy's question is appropriate for Leaders' Questions, which we do not have on Thursday mornings.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I refer to regulations which would be validly presented to the House if initiatives were to be taken.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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As Deputy Bruton is well aware, questions on the Order of Business relate to promised legislation. That is my difficulty.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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If Ministers spent a little more time in their constituencies listening to businesses, they would know people are struggling just to survive.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Bruton should wait until he becomes party leader in the new year.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The issue may be a joke for some but not for others.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Crawford will not be leader.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister, Deputy Ahern, should watch out. I have heard the Minister for Transport will go for the party leadership in the new year.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please allow Deputy Bruton to continue without interruption.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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It is a serious problem and the presence of the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance in the House is an opportunity.

Ryanair has made an offer for Aer Lingus whose board has treated it as a hostile bid and indicated it will not contact any of its shareholders with respect to it. What is the Government's position on this matter which would require new legislation? Is it continuing to consider the offer as valid or does it share the view of the Aer Lingus board that it is a hostile bid?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Unfortunately, I do not believe legislation is promised in either area. That appears to be the position. I call Deputy Gilmore.

Deputies:

Legislation is necessary.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Both the issues I raise would involve legislative proposals being presented to the Dáil.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Legislation is not promised and, as the Deputy knows, I cannot make up Standing Orders as I go along.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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In the long period I have attended the House on Thursday mornings I have not seen such a strict interpretation of the rules.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The House may change Standing Orders if it so wishes.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Tánaiste should show leadership and answer the questions.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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She does not have answers.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I welcome the agreement reached last night, which will allow the processing of pork to recommence today and provide for pork products to reappear on supermarket shelves. I am sure we are all in agreement that restoring consumer confidence in Irish pork products is essential. I note the Government was able to find a way to put together €180 million required——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy cannot raise that, as he well knows. I must be consistent.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am trying to be nice to the Government today.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am trying to be nice to Deputy Gilmore. I must be consistent. I cannot tell Deputy Bruton he is out of order and then tell Deputy Gilmore he is in order when he is not.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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In that case I note it could find €180 million for this but not €10 million for cervical cancer.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is not in order. The Deputy must move on to something that is in order.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Where there is a will there is a way.

I wish to inquire about the whereabouts or well-being of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley. We have not seen him in the House for a long time and, first, I would like to know if he is still in Government.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Gilmore must move on.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Second, I want to know what has happened to the promised legislation.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Minister, Deputy Gormley, is not promised legislation.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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That is for sure. The Minister, Deputy Gormley, is on a promise and it is not happening for him.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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On promised legislation, please.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Minister, Deputy Gormley, promised legislation to put a cap on the spending limits in local elections. He also made a statement on regulating the use of posters. We are all making preparations for these important elections next June. The Minister, Deputy Gormley, so far has failed to produce the amendments to the Electoral Bill on spending limits and we have heard nothing on poster regulations. What has happened to his promise to put a cap on spending limits in local elections? Why has he not been able to get agreement by the Cabinet on this relatively modest measure?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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There will be a letter from the Taoiseach outlining the fact that it is our intention to include it on Committee Stage of the Bill currently before the Seanad discussions, as long as they comply with Standing Orders.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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It is going on a long time. Can the Tánaiste tell us the number of posters?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister, Deputy Gormley, is on official business in Poland.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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On the issue of the missing Minister, can the Tánaiste confirm to the House that legislation will be required to deal with a situation where An Bord Pleanála has indicated that all its decisions between autumn 2004 and early 2005 are now invalid because of the Minister's failure to comply with the terms of board appointments? Local government amending legislation will be required. Can the Tánaiste confirm that this legislation will be introduced urgently?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is legislation promised in this area?

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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It is an unprecedented situation.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I will have to come back to the Deputy. I am not aware of what legislative measures are required.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I remind the Tánaiste that on 22 May this year on the Order of Business she confirmed to the House that legislation to facilitate complaints against members of the Judiciary would be enacted by the end of this year. Not only has the legislation not been debated, it has not been published. Where does that legislation stand? We are approaching the end of the year.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will there be legislation on judicial reform?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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We are still in discussion with the Judiciary on that matter. Other urgent legislation had to be provided for also this session.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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It is promised but not provided.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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We are approaching Christmas which should be a time of goodwill. Can we have an indication of when the matter of the George Mitchell scholarship fund will come before the House? He did a great deal for the peace process in this country and it is sad that the fund is being constantly delayed.

Given that the next meeting between Members of the Oireachtas and the HSE is in St. Agnes complex in Monaghan, when will the Mental Health Bill come before the House because what is currently being done in the health service is mental?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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They will both be next year.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Several Members on this side of the House have continually raised the issue of crime, and in particular organised crime, over the past two or three years. The response from Government has been abysmal, appalling and shameful.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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No running commentaries.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It is not a running commentary. The Tánaiste is smiling; I do not think it is a smiling matter.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Never mind the smiling. Ask about the legislation.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The legislation promised by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, should come before the House as a matter of urgency. I will not go through the list. One item is the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill. Where is it, how long more will it take and is there any intention to bring it before the House?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Next year.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The answer to everything is next year.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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It is something to look forward to.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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We could have a general election to look forward to.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Fair play to Deputy Flanagan.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Another item is related to promised legislation. A constituent of mine who is aged 90 is on a trolley for the second day in a hospital in this city.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy must ask about legislation.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I will ask about legislation in a moment. I, and others, have asked these questions over previous weeks in anticipation of the winter months. Will the Tánaiste and her colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, use their good offices to ensure that no hardship is caused to elderly people in this fashion throughout the winter months? I ask that this patient be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot discuss that.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Can the Minister——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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If we got into that, we would never finish the Order of Business.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Can the Tánaiste indicate when the eligibility for health and personal social services Bill will come before the House? Is it another one for next year?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Bill is currently being drafted and will be available next year.

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Can the Tánaiste inform the House when legislation will come before the House to give the plebiscite of Dingle effect whereby it will be known under the Place-Names (Irish Forms) Act 1973 as Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis? When will legislation come before the House and what form will it take?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is legislation promised?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The legislation is promised. In deference to the Deputies, I will not say when because they will all claim it on the radio. It has been promised and will come before the House next year.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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When the talks between the social partners and Government finished on 17 September it was announced that legislation would be introduced to deal with the position of freelance musicians, actors and journalists as part of an amendment to section 4 of the Competition Act. When will we see this legislation?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I intend to introduce a number of amendments to section 4 regarding the IMO and Irish Equity. We are preparing the legislation and it will be at least the spring before it comes before the House.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach and his Government colleagues announced, although not in this Chamber, the intention to force a second referendum on the Lisbon treaty on the people next year. However, the draft Dáil schedule for next week has no mention of the European Council meeting. Can the Tánaiste indicate if the matter will be on the schedule for next week and that the meeting of the European Council, and all that swirls around it, can be addressed properly in this Chamber?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will swirl around that next week. We cannot discuss next week's business this morning. It is not possible.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In normal circumstances we have statements after the Council meeting. I assume it will be next week.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Tánaiste expect there will be statements?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In normal circumstances, we try to afford that opportunity. If it can be done, we will do it.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Like previous speakers, I welcome the conclusion of negotiations between the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and pig processors which will see the industry back in operation today. From listening to the Tánaiste's earlier comments, we will have a Supplementary Estimate next week to give effect to that agreement. Will the Tánaiste ensure that adequate time is made available to discuss this very significant issue in the Dáil? I do not think a one hour time allocation is sufficient.

Have any other issues been envisaged within that Supplementary Estimate? I refer in particular to sweetheart deals that have been concluded between the independent republics of north Tipperary and south Kerry for the installation aid scheme.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I cannot discuss sweetheart deals on the Order of Business.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Deputies Lowry and Healy-Rae were touting a deal allegedly done with the Minister so that applications in their constituencies that were not submitted to the Department prior to the budget can be considered. Last week, the Minister said in the Dáil that every other application would not be included.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy will have to raise that on the Adjournment.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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This is an issue of the gravest importance.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is a pile of things that are of the gravest importance but that are not in order. I will allow the Tánaiste to answer on the Supplementary Estimate, but I cannot talk about installation aid grants and things like that.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Supplementary Estimate will be exclusive to the decision that was made last night.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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This was a very important deal, worth €180 million. I would like time to be made available to discuss the issue next week. When will the Supplementary Estimate be made available?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed that it would be on Wednesday. Given that it is so important, it will be taken on the floor of the House.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Following on from the welcome agreement on pork products, I would like to ask a question about the health implications of the crisis. Will the Government learn any lessons after what has happened? There does appear to be a breakdown in the various regulatory and monitoring bodies. The EPA may have responsibility for one aspect of this while the Food Safety Authority and the Department of Agriculture——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Has the Deputy a question on legislation?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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This is very serious. We must learn lessons for the future on public health.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I cannot go off on that tangent now.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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There are a number of Bills promised, such as the Bill on animal health and welfare and the health (corporate bodies) Bill. Will the Government make sure there are no cracks within the different regulatory bodies on public health?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Our own regulatory authorities are robust, and it is on the basis of that robust nature that the issues have been dealt with.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Tánaiste should forget about that and talk about the legislation.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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They are like hell. They failed abysmally and the Department failed abysmally. Where was the traceability?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Would Deputy Creed have a daily inspection?

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Their performance was abysmal.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Creed's performance is abysmal. He should show a bit of responsibility.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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There is no point being Mighty Mouse up here, and Mickey Mouse in Limerick.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The animal health and welfare Bill has been through public consultation, but it will take some time to bring it before the House. It is a consolidation of all animal health matters.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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What about the other Bill?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The first Bill is out for public consultation, and the Department will be dealing with it as quickly as possible. The health (corporate bodies) Bill will be dealt with next year.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Will the Minister co-ordinate the two Bills?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy does not even know what the legislation is about. It is about the consolidation of all the animal disease regulations.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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I am concerned that we might have gaps between the different regulatory bodies.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is fully aware that there will be grave consequences for agriculture, and that everything will have to be done properly.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I would like to ask the Tánaiste about an area in which there is no regulation at all, in spite of five years of Government promises. I am talking about the tens of thousands of people who are living subject to management companies and who cannot even sell their apartment in many cases. The Tánaiste has promised us week after week that we would see this legislation, which is important to so many young couples who are being fleeced for management charges. When they try to sell their apartments, they are impeded in the sale if the management company has not been properly structured.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has explained this on numerous occasions.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Tánaiste promised last week that we would get the heads of a Bill before Christmas. What is the story, with one sitting week left?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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We are currently drafting that Bill. It is highly unlikely that we will have it before Christmas, given that we have only one more week in the House, but we will try to have it as quickly as possible.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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On 12 November, I received a response to a parliamentary question regarding the publication of a report by the National Board for Safeguarding Children on complaints made against the Diocese of Cloyne. It is now 11 December and I was told the report would be published before the end of the year. Will time be made available to the House to discuss this issue? It is a vital report. I sought to raise it by way of a parliamentary question, but I do not see any point in raising it under Standing Order 32.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is this report to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas?

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I have been asking about the report——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is it to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas?

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Yes it is, and I have been asking about it for four months.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I will ask the Minister of State to contact the Deputy directly to discuss the matter.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I would like to ask a question related to the health (miscellaneous provisions) Bill. When will the procedure be put in place for the disposal of the pork that is currently in processors' chills?

There was a headline in the news media this week about an Indian woman aged 70 who gave birth to her first child after IVF treatment. When will we see the human tissue Bill? When will we see legislation to regulate IVF in this country?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The human tissue Bill is currently being prepared, but we do not have a date for its publication.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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What about the procedures regarding the pork in chills around the country?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot go into procedures about chilling pork.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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We will not need legislation for that. The procedures are being dealt with by the Department.