Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

The late Mr. Justice Dermot Kinlen produced some excellent reports on the prisons and the prison service. His final report should have been published by now. His previous reports were the subject of excellent debates in this House. I ask the Leader to inquire from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the report will be published so that the House can debate it. Almost €40 million has been expended on Thornton Hall and not a brick has been laid yet, to the best of my knowledge, while in the meantime our prisons continue to deteriorate.

I support Senator Fitzgerald and other speakers regarding the nursing homes Bill. This Bill has not been published. I express the wish that it should not be rushed through the Oireachtas when it is published, whether that is before or after Christmas. This subject must be debated.

The HSE has informed nursing homes that some of the provisions of this Bill will be applied from 1 January 2008 and this is completely out of order. I ask for an urgent debate on the Bill and that sufficient time is allowed to discuss its provisions.