Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

On the Order of Business proposed by the Deputy Leader of the House, we are in agreement that all Stages of Nos. 4 and 5 will be taken today. However, this should not be considered a precedent. We appreciate that these are important pieces of legislation that need to go through the House by the conclusion of business. However, the Fine Gael Party will move some amendments to both Bills and we will ask the Minister to look sympathetically at them.

Will the Deputy Leader find out from the Government when it proposes to make a clear statement on its plans for decentralisation? We had the razzmatazz of the budget last week and the bleatings of the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, as well as the outrageous suggestion that there is some kind of Dublin mindset in place. A clear statement is needed on when decentralisation will take place, who will be involved and what it will cost. It is clear from developments over the weekend that there is much muddled thinking by the Government on the matter. It would be useful if the House could obtain a full statement from the Government.

The Deputy Leader might also ask the Government to make a statement concerning last night's "Prime Time" programme which made it clear that a small but unknown number of people in this country are trading across the Internet in some of the most depraved pictures of children. This is a very serious matter. There was a call this morning for a full inquiry throughout the country. Will the Deputy Leader speak to the relevant Minister and ask that a statement be made as soon as possible? It is important that all measures necessary to protect children are put in place and where it is clear that people in this country are abusing children and trading in their images in the most deprived form of Internet use, that must be stopped. An early statement by the Government would be useful.