Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I support the call for a debate on the privatisation and sale of Aer Lingus. It is an urgent matter that needs to be debated as soon as possible. I urge the Leader to arrange such a debate.

On another matter, which relates to Senator Leyden's proposed Bill on the defamation of the dead, will the Leader advise us as to the stage of preparation of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in regard to a panoply of legislation on the press council, privacy and reform of libel and defamation laws? We discussed these issues in this House in the past mainly due to the efforts of the Leader, but we are still awaiting the introduction of this important and significant legislation. It was to be published originally before Christmas and we were told more recently it would be published before Easter, which is fast approaching. Can the Leader indicate when that legislation will be introduced?

Will the Leader consider arranging a debate on issues related to health, particularly that of the provision of acute services? A useful exchange took place between Professor Drumm, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, and members of the Joint Committee on Health and Children last Thursday when a number of issues were thrashed out. The outstanding issue is that of bed capacity. I would like the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House to facilitate a discussion on a number of issues, particularly those related to how hospitals are being managed. It is emerging that not all hospitals have problems in that small hospitals in particular work well. It is important that we would be able to tease out the issues emerging around the important matter of health policy.