Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

The All-Party Committee on the Constitution, of which I am a member, yesterday launched a report on property rights. The Taoiseach, who requested the report, ironically was unable to launch it because he was appearing before the Mahon tribunal, which is examining certain land rezoning and corrupt payment issues. The report of the All-Party Committee on the Constitution contains measures which could deal with the issue of land speculation and any corrupt payments by capping the price of land and so on. I ask that the Leader invite the Taoiseach to come to the House to update us on whether the Government will implement the measures contained in the report as speedily as possible.

I would like clarification of the announcement today of the reversal of the cut in unemployment benefit for widows. The position in that regard is unclear from the newspaper reports. What will be the position of lone parents who lost the same entitlement in respect of stamps paid? Will the decision to cut their entitlements also be reversed because not to do so would be very unfair? I welcome the proposed reversal of the decision in regard to widows.