Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

The schedule has been changed a number of times during the past week. I apologise for this, but it was changed to facilitate a request to include an early signature motion in respect of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011. The Government is anxious that the commencement order pertaining to the new Department of public Expenditure and Reform be signed early next week in order that the Department can get on with its important work. The Government has decided that all Stages of the Bill will be taken tomorrow. As a result, the debate on school transport which many Members have been requesting for some time was removed from the schedule. When I asked the Minister of State, Deputy Ciaran Cannon, to attend the House during the week to address the issue, he kindly acceded to my request and will be present from 5.45 p.m. to 7. p.m. today. The issue would have been off the agenda completely had I not asked the Minister of State to address it.