Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Bacik confirmed that the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, will be in the House next week and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, will be in the House the following week. We will have a debate on the Magdalen laundries next week.

Senator Barrett referred to the delays in introducing legislation, with particular reference to the Bill introduced by Senator Colm Burke. He was right when he said that civil servants do not have a monopoly on wisdom where legislation is concerned.

I must say I was perturbed that, given this is a Bill the Department of Health has been talking about bringing in for the last four years, it was not ready to accept Senator Burke's Bill, deal with it and have amendments made to it. I do not believe Committee Stage of the Bill will come to the House next week. However, we will certainly be putting pressure on the Department of Health to put in place a Bill, which it says it has practically prepared at this stage, and bring it before the House, or else amend Senator Burke's Bill. I agree with the Senator that some civil servants may think they have a monopoly of wisdom and do not like Members bringing in legislation. However, it is a matter of fact and they are going to have to live with it. Some very good Bills have been introduced by Members on all sides of this House.