Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

Fine Gael agrees to the Order of Business. Is the Leader in a position to tell the House when the Government intends to bring legislation on electronic voting before it? The latest phase of the e-voting saga took place yesterday when the Government decided to appoint an independent commission to investigate the matter and report to the Houses by 1 May. While every member of the commission is a person of the highest possible standing, the failure to involve and consult the Opposition on the appointments is another example of the Government's poor treatment of it and both Houses of the Oireachtas.

The Government is putting the Clerks of both Houses in an invidious position by placing them on the commission. They are being asked to adjudicate on what has become a political matter and one which should have been determined in this and the other House. It is unwarranted and unfair of the Government to place in that position individuals of the highest possible public repute. I wish to hear a statement from the Government on this matter and to know when legislation will come forward. As we approach the June elections, a cloud continues to obscure our knowledge of which system of voting will be in place. We require clarity on the matter.

As the Leader knows, I wrote to her last week asking for time to bring the Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003 to the House. I note that the Bill will come before the Dáil this week, which is welcome. Is it still the Government's position that the first matter to be examined by the commission after the enactment of the Bill will be the issue of clerical sex abuse in the Dublin archdiocese? A commitment to that effect was given to the victims of clerical sex abuse in the archdiocese 18 months ago. The One in Four organisation and many victims of clerical abuse in this archdiocese want to be informed of a definitive Government position in this regard.