Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I rise to pay tribute to the Minister for Justice and Equality, who got specific training in this House when she was leader of the Opposition in the last Government. The announcement today that she is taking on board the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality to empower GSOC to do a proper job, among other things, is a positive development. I said previously that even though the principle was good, GSOC was toothless. The Minister is a breath of fresh air in the Department of Justice and Equality. She is committed to restoring confidence in the Garda Síochána and modernising the dinosaur that is the Department as it has existed for many decades. Sometimes I am very critical of Ministers, but today is a day for paying tribute to the Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. I wish her well and congratulate her on what she has done.
This year and last year I called for debates on farming, fishing, rural decline, sustainable jobs for rural Ireland, and legal services - the legal services Bill has yet to come before the House - and others have called for a debate on health care. These debates have been promised ad nauseam. Given that the House is going into recess within the next three weeks, I demand that these debates take place beforehand if at all possible.
No. 5 on the Order Paper is the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014. However, this Bill was published only in the past three or four days. It is a Bill on which we could reflect and debate next week or the following week, rather than rushing into it today, which is a mistake. In view of the fact that so many other debates have been demanded, I ask the Deputy Leader, given that it was published on 24 June, to arrange to take the Second Stage debate before the summer recess and the other Stages in the autumn. As it is not an urgent matter, I ask the Deputy Leader to reflect on it. I am making a fair point. I am not being opportunist or antagonistic towards the Deputy Leader.

It could be dealt with in a less rushed fashion, given the fact that many debates have been promised on various issues, some of which I have outlined, but have not been arranged. Some of those promises date back more than 12 months.