Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the two Bills which I published. The first, the Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2012, which relates to the need for comprehensive insurance, was first introduced in 2009 by the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, who was then in opposition. At the time, the then Department of Health and Children stated that by January of 2010 there would be agreement from it to this legislation. The reason I raise this is that there was another report at the weekend that it is likely the claims of some women who had breast implants will not succeed because of inadequate insurance. It only emphasises the urgency of the legislation which I published over six months ago. We were told the Department would be back to us by June and we have heard nothing from it, whether it intends publishing its own Bill or accepting the Bill which I published.

The second Bill relates to the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality. I have made representations to the Department on the matter of missing persons and the need for putting in place new legislation to deal with that issue where a death certificate cannot be issued. This is important legislation.

It is about the use of the Seanad. We are leading into the debate about the abolition of the Seanad and these two pieces of extremely constructive legislation illustrate how the Seanad can be used constructively in bringing forward legislation. That might be raised with the Taoiseach when he is in today. I would ask the Leader that I might get some answers on those two Bills.