Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I want to outline the timetable for forthcoming legislation. The Minister of State, Deputy Curran, yesterday stated that the political environment at the present time means that it is expected that the current Dáil and Seanad sessions will be interrupted by a general election. It is in recognition of this that we are setting aside the normal publication of an A, B and C list and instead bringing forward a legislative work programme for the remainder of the 30th Dáil and the 27th Seanad. This work programme of legislation entails the publication of Bills over coming weeks and enactment by the Houses of the Oireachtas. In some cases, legislation may have been published or may have commenced debate in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The Government partners are committed to the full enactment of the finance Bill and other budget related legislation, including the public service pensions (single scheme) Bill, the betting (amendment) Bill and the social welfare (miscellaneous provisions) Bill. In addition to these and provided adequate Oireachtas time is available over the coming weeks, the Bills also for enactment are the criminal justice Bill in regard to white collar crime, the Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill, which will be in the Seanad next week, the electoral (amendment) Bill on corporate donations, the NAMA (amendment) Bill and the patents (amendment) Bill. Legislation published includes the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and the Climate Change Response Bill, initiated in this House and which will be taken after the Order of Business.

Legislation which has commenced in the Oireachtas includes the Local Government (Mayor and Regional Authority of Dublin) Bill 2010, which is on Report Stage in the Dáil, the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010, which is also on Report Stage in the Dáil the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill, which is a Seanad Bill and is now on Second Stage in the Dáil, the Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010, which is on Report Stage in the Dáil, the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009, which was a Seanad Bill and which is on Report Stage in the Dáil, the Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2010, which was initiated in the Seanad and is on Second Stage; the Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Bill, which is on Committee Stage in the Dáil, the Construction Contracts Bill 2010, which is on Committee Stage in the Seanad, which is Senator Quinn's Bill and on which we are doing everything we possibly can to ensure it goes through both the Dáil and Seanad before we have a general election, the Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009, which is before the House, and the Student Support Bill 2008, Second Stage of which commenced in the Seanad yesterday.

While this list is not exhaustive, it does give a broad indication of the busy legislative session I believe the Oireachtas will be engaged in over the coming period.