Did I understand the Minister to say that he was starting from scratch on a new Bill? Is he not accepting all the work done by his various predecessors in the Department of Health?

Having examined the memorandum which had gone to Government, on reflection I decided that I should withdraw it from Government when I took over. I withdrew the memorandum because I did not consider that it was adequate in terms of a memorandum and I had to recommence the drafting of the Bill.

I should like to say that I feel, as Ceann Comhairle, that a question like this does not afford a platform for a Committee Stage debate on a Bill that has not been introduced, and that is really what has been done.

I think it was an appropriate question to ask the Minister seeing that he himself raised the question.

My remarks were not directed to any particular Member of the House — it was a general statement. If a statement about a Bill, when or if it will be introduced — if that is to form the basis for practically a Committee Stage debate, it is ridiculous.

When the Bill would be introduced was included in Deputy Shatter's question.

Yes, it would, but then one does not go on to ask what would be in a certain section, how many sections it will have and so on.

The Minister brought that up.