Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed to take No. 2, Finance Bill 2009 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. Private Members' Business shall be No. 70, motion re banking system.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are no proposals to be put to the House. I call Deputy Kenny.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Is it the Taoiseach's intention to send the Minister for Finance to the United States or to travel there himself to make proper preparations to deal with the possible consequences of the changes in tax law envisaged by the American Government?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a question more appropriate to Question Time, as the Deputy will be aware.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This matter may well have consequences for this country on foot of legislation to be introduced in the United States.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is not a matter that is appropriate under Standing Orders.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Where else can Deputy Kenny raise this matter?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This is a matter that goes beyond a mere technicality, as the Taoiseach will be aware. There are some disturbing reports that the matter is not to be detailed for approximately 18 months, but it is critical we make adequate preparations to ensure that nothing untoward happens in so far as profits generated by American investment here are concerned in the event that they might be repatriated. Has the Taoiseach any views on this matter?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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This matter is not strictly in order, unless the Taoiseach wants to be helpful.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The only point I would make is that the Tánaiste has been to the United States in the past two weeks. The Minister for Foreign Affairs was there last week. The Tánaiste is co-ordinating a response in terms of how this issue will evolve on Capitol Hill over the coming months and possibly years. Adequate resources are being provided for that in personnel terms.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I wish to raise two matters with the Taoiseach. One concerns an item of legislation he promised at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis during which he said legislation would be brought in to require groups campaigning in referendum campaigns to submit details of their funding and expenditure to the Standards in Public Office Commission. When will that legislation appear? Will it be enacted before a second referendum is held on the Lisbon treaty?

Second, the Minister for Finance, when in London recently, promised to introduce legislation to ban cross-directorships and chief executives becoming chairpersons of their companies and said that such legislation would be designed to crack down on crony capitalism in Ireland. When will the crony capitalism legislation be introduced?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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That was another good sound bite. On the issue concerning cross-directorships-----

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Peter Bacon is cited on the website of NTMA - he uses that phrase too.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot proceed like this.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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There is not much point in doing so.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Every time the Taoiseach speaks today somebody seems to interrupt him. We cannot have that. I call the Taoiseach to proceed without interruption.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In regard to the first item of legislation concerning the question of a referendum, that is something we would like to see introduced before the forthcoming referendum is held. Work will continue on that.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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We cannot hear the Taoiseach.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Sorry, I will start again.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Thank you.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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On the referendum Bill mentioned by Deputy Gilmore in the first instance, that will be prepared in the hope of having it ready before the next referendum.

On the question of the legislation referred to by the Minister for Finance, a direct question tabled to the Minister would give the most up to date and accurate response, but it takes its place among a great deal of involved legislation that is currently under consideration.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Is it the Government's intention to bring forward criminal justice legislation, particularly in regard to criminal gangs, on foot of the interview given by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform over the weekend following the march in Limerick?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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These are matters that are being worked on as a matter of priority.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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I did not hear the Taoiseach's reply.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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This is a matter that is being worked on as a matter of priority.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Is the Taoiseach planning to bring some measure forward in near future?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Of course, we would like to do that as soon as possible. We have to draft the legislation obviously.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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It was revealed yesterday that the number of skin cancer cases has risen by 36% from 1997 to 2007 and, even more disturbingly, that there has been a 75% increase in malignant melanoma in females under 50 years of age. What plans have the Government to introduce legislation to prohibit the use of sunbeds by under 18 year olds? It was signalled this would be addressed as part of the public health (miscellaneous provisions) Bill but, as the most recent Government programme of promised legislation indicates, as yet there is no indication when that Bill will be published despite it having been on lists of promised legislation for years. What is the prospect of that Bill being brought forward or will the Government consider, given the serious and worrying statistics in regard to skin cancer cases, bringing forward that element of the promised legislation as a stand-alone Bill to address this issue as a matter of urgency?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The question of whether it can be brought forward as a stand-alone Bill is something that would be best addressed to the Minister for Health and Children. A date has not yet been fixed for the consideration of the public health (miscellaneous provisions) Bill. I understand the public consultation process on the preparation of that legislation has just concluded but I do not have a date for its consideration by Cabinet or for its publication. If there is a particular aspect of it the Deputy is interested in that he believes should be brought forward as a separate matter, perhaps it should be taken up with the Minister for Health and Children at Question Time.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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First, during the years various promises have been made regarding putting a cap on legal costs. In light of the recent issue regarding the Moriarty tribunal, when will a legal costs Bill be introduced? Will such a Bill have any implications in terms of the extraordinary costs involved in legal cases?

Second, I asked this question on Thursday but it is worthwhile asking it again. Will time be provided to discuss the collapse of the agriculture industry, especially the dairy sector? I ask that this be considered as a matter of urgency.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is a matter for the Whips.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Regarding the legislation, I am informed by the Chief Whip that, unfortunately, we do not have a date for the legal costs Bill. We will have to consider how soon it can be brought forward. A good deal of legislation has had to be enacted in view of the economic and financial crisis which means that some Bills are not making the progress that would otherwise be the case.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I have two sets of questions for the Taoiseach. The first relates to the ongoing non-legislative performance of the Department of Education and Science and I ask that he might raise this again with the Minister. There are three Bills outstanding but there is no progress no them. One of the Bills relates to the George Mitchell scholarship scheme and the Taoiseach may have attended a reception yesterday evening on that matter. We are still standing exposed and shamed by refusing to put our money where our mouth is in that regard.

More pertinently, I refer to the forthcoming referendum on the Lisbon treaty. When will the legislation for that referendum be brought before the House? I presume it will be brought before the House this side of the summer recess. Will the Tánaiste, who is sitting beside the Taoiseach, be in a position at some stage later this week to indicate what legislative proposals she will be bringing forward to ensure that the contentious matters of labour legislation in domestic law will be resolved so that it is not an obstacle at domestic level in this Republic and not relating to the Viking case or the Laval case or other matters dealt with at Commission and the European Court of Justice?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Employment Law Compliance Bill is before the House and it is hoped the other two Bills will be published before the summer recess. On the basis of a successful outcome, it is hoped to hold discussions on the December Council meeting. In the event it is taken at the June Council meeting and on the basis of decisions we would hope to see taking place there, that will enable us to consider a referendum Bill being brought forward during the course of this session.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach informed the House that the Government had set up a working group on Dáil reform last January and he said last February that he was anxious to see progress without delay. At this stage in May is there any sign of progress?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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This is a matter best dealt with by the Chief Whip who is running that process.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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We tried but there is no progress.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I asked the Taoiseach last week about the progress of the road traffic Bill which is expected before the end of this session. I am not sure if he is aware of very severe criticisms of the Minister for Transport made earlier today by the chair of the Road Safety Authority, the very distinguished broadcaster, Gay Byrne.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have often said that we cannot discuss radio programmes on the Order of Business.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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In this case it was a damning indictment of the Minister's performance in a key area of his portfolio.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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What is the Deputy's question?

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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The Taoiseach got rid of the Minister who was responsible for road safety and we still have no speed cameras. There is a lot of legislation in this area. Given the last few disastrous weeks on the roads, will the Taoiseach be making any announcements in this an area?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the road traffic Bill is at an advanced stage.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Will it be brought to the House before the end of the session?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I cannot say at the moment but it is at an advanced stage.