Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his priorities in regard to political reform until the end of 2011. [6838/11]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will make a commitment to publish legislation banning corporate donations before the end of 2011. [6833/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 36 together.

The Programme for Government commits to a radical overhaul of the way Irish politics and Government work. It sets out a wide-ranging series of commitments to this end, a number of which are within my areas of responsibility as Minister. I am committed to working with my Government colleagues to implement these measures in full.

The Programme for Government states that we will introduce the necessary legal and constitutional provisions to ban corporate donations to political parties. This is one element of the Government's plan to bring about reform of the funding and operation of politics in Ireland.

Work is currently underway in my Department on the preparation of legislation to give effect to this commitment on political funding, having regard to recommendations made in the final report of the Moriarty Tribunal. I expect that this legislation will be published this year.