Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Chuir an ráiteas a rinne an Ceannaire inné beagáinín imní orm. I was quite concerned by the Leader's reply yesterday. The reason given for the lack of legislation in the Houses was that there was a backlog in the Office of the Attorney General, which is underresourced in putting through pending legislation. I ask the Leader to expand on this and tell us how the Government intends to deal with the matter. Will it make more resources available? If it does not, the Cabinet will be merely like a fleet of buses without any diesel. It will not be able to go anywhere until the legislation comes through. This stifles the work of both Houses.

With a view to co-operating and suggesting possible moves we could take in this House, we would like to examine European legislation. An e-document made available in the Library & Research Service this week is very important. It is a Green Paper on a 2030 framework for climate and energy policies. There is to be public consultation lasting until 2 July allowing member states, EU institutions and stakeholders to express their views on the type, nature and level of potential climate and energy targets for 2030 but also on other important aspects of EU energy policy. This would be a very constructive debate to have in this House. It is obvious that the European Union is asking each member state to engage in consultation on this matter and answer before 2 July. Perhaps having such a debate might be considered.