Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand that I do not have more detailed information for the Senator, but the broader point is how it was a Fine Gael Government that introduced this legislation to put to the people in relation to the referendum. There is certainly no lack of commitment about the provision of appropriate healthcare services for every person in this country, on my part or the part of my party. There is a body of work to be done within the Department of Health. It is not a Department that produces a great deal of legislation. It should be available. If it is going through pre-legislative scrutiny, that is probably a good thing. It also helps the passage of the legislation by going through the Houses in a more efficient way because people have had good sight of and engagement on this prior to the publication of the Bill.

I apologise that I do not have a date for the Senator. It would not be typical that one would have that. I do not believe pre-legislative scrutiny has concluded at this point. It is, therefore, not clear to me what report will be published by the Joint Committee on Health, for example, if that is to follow, as would normally be the case, and what the response of that would be. If that is the case, as I understand it, that pre-legislative scrutiny is continuing, that is an appropriate next step. I believe everybody in the campaign would want to see that process completed in order to have the best and most efficient and constructive passage of legislation through both Houses.