Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It is proposed to take No. 7, National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014 - Second Stage (resumed) and No. 6, Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014 - Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil on its rising today shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 4 June 2014.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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There is one proposal to be put to the House. Is the proposal that the Dáil on its rising today shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 4 June 2014 agreed? Agreed.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013 passed Second Stage in January but we are still awaiting the commencement of Committee Stage. The Bill is designed to extend betting duty to online transactions, but the delay in enacting it is costing the State millions of euro. When will Committee Stage be taken and when will the Bill be passed? If the Tánaiste does not have an answer in that regard, he can ask the relevant Minister to revert to me on the matter.

The Taoiseach indicated that the issue of discretionary medical cards was before the relevant Cabinet sub-committee for consideration and that proposals relating to it would be brought to the full Cabinet. Will the Tánaiste advise when that is expected to happen? Will he also indicate when there is likely to be an indication of any possible change in policy and whether legislation will be required to facilitate such a change?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I understand the Betting (Amendment) Bill is at committee.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Committee Stage has not yet commenced.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Yes. It is awaiting Committee Stage. Obviously, it is a matter for the committee to set the date for that.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is the issue.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I think I know where Deputy McGrath is going with the question. If there are issues in respect of the preparation of amendments I will ask the Minister for Finance to get back directly to Deputy McGrath.

The second question related to the review of medical cards. This issue was discussed at Cabinet on Tuesday and work is being done on it. I understand work being done on it today and I expect we will have a conclusion to that very soon.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to inquire about two tranches of legislation. The first relates to a Private Members' Bill which is currently on Committee Stage, the Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2014. On Monday, the report of the independent inspector in respect of the decision by Westmeath County Council to incorporate setback distances for wind turbines into the council draft development plan was launched. Unfortunately, the council supported the contention of the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, that the setback distances were not going to be adhered to. This is of considerable concern to residents throughout the midlands. The Wind Turbine Regulation Bill is currently on Committee Stage. When will it be brought forward by the Minister to be discussed on Committee Stage?

What is the position on the Protected Disclosures Bill relating to whistleblowers? Report Stage was due to be taken on 11 June. The list of legislation to be completed by the summer recess was published yesterday by the Whip's office but it is not included on the list. Is it still on course to be completed before the summer recess?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I understand a public consultation process is taking place in respect of the Wind Turbine Regulation Bill and it is due to be finalised in the third quarter of this year. Obviously, that process must be completed before the Bill proceeds to Committee Stage.

The Protected Disclosures Bill is awaiting Report Stage.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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We were informed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, in response to a question from Deputy McDonald, that it would be taken on 11 June, but it was not included on the list, published yesterday, of legislation to be completed before the summer recess.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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My understanding is that there is no change in the plans to complete that Bill this session. The information I have is that it is to be on 11 June. I have no information to the contrary and, therefore, I will work with that. The list circulated yesterday is not the complete list. The intention is that the Bill will be completed.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Can the Tánaiste indicate the current position in regard to the public health (alcohol) Bill, which is a Bill to provide for minimum pricing of the sale of alcohol and the regulation of the use of alcohol products as loss leaders in the retail sector? Has the Bill been finalised? When is it coming before the House? What is the likely progress over the remainder of the year?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The preparation of the heads of the Bill were approved by Cabinet at the end of October 2013. The Minister of State, Deputy White, is still doing some work on it. I do not have an actual date for its publication but it is being progressed.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Homelessness is an issue that has generated a good deal of traction with Government and the public in recent times. I am struck by the fact that a significant subset of those who are currently homeless in the State are women and children who have fled the family home due to domestic violence. The Government has indicated a commitment to deal with this problem. Given the commitments made in recent times about homelessness, does the Tánaiste envisage that the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will have to come forward with a Supplementary Estimate some time later this year to address the challenge of homelessness and the associated costs that will, inevitably, be involved? Has the Cabinet considered the Istanbul Convention, an international convention that seeks to combat violence against women? The matter is obviously linked to the homelessness issue in the country.

My final question relates to the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. Part 4 contains a provision to disappear 77,000 people off the housing waiting lists. Under the Bill the Government has promised and stated that 77,000 people out of the 90,000 people currently on the waiting list will be considered to have their housing needs met. I am not at all surprised at such a proposal coming from Fine Gael but I am absolutely astonished that it would come from the Labour Party. Can the Tánaiste give us some sort of commitment that there will be a change in that legislation before it emerges on Committee or Report Stage?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As I understand it, the Bill is due to be in committee next week. Obviously, if Deputy Ó Fearghaíl wishes to propose amendments, that is the place to propose them and they will be addressed at that stage.

Deputy Ó Fearghaíl referred to domestic violence. Work is under way to reform and consolidate the Domestic Violence Act 1996. It is planned that the reform of the legislation will include new provisions on emergency barring and safety orders. These reforms are needed to enable Ireland to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, that is, the Istanbul Convention to which Deputy Ó Fearghaíl referred.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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When is it intended to publish the maritime area and foreshore (amendment) Bill? Will the Bill include updating the law in respect of seaweed harvesting licences, which has become an issue of contention around the coast?

In view of the apparent shortage of Government legislation coming forward and the large number of Private Members' Bills waiting to be taken from Members, who have all been elected equally, is it intended to provide time on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to take more Private Members' Bills in the absence of Government legislation?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The maritime area and foreshore (amendment) Bill is due this session. The committee issued a report on the pre-legislative consideration of the Bill on 13 February.

The ordering of business for the House is a matter for the Whips. From what I can see, the difficulty of the House in respect of its business has more to do with the failure on the part of Opposition parties and Deputies to use the time available to them to make the arguments and the case in the House and to keep the business going.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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I wish to ask the Tánaiste about the Cooke report into the alleged bugging of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. Two weeks ago we were told that the completion of the report was imminent. Has the Government received the report? When can we expect publication?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I understand the report is imminent.

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I wish to ask about two tranches of legislation. The gambling control Bill proposes to update and consolidate the law on betting and gambling. When can we expect it? What is the position on the Horse Racing Ireland (amendment) Bill, which will amend and extend the Irish Horseracing Industry Act 1994 and the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The first Bill is due next year. The second Bill is listed for this session.