It is proposed to take Nos. 3, 4 and 5. Private Members' Business shall be No. 28.

Will the Taoiseach indicate the legislation in the area of crime the Government proposes to issue prior to the summer recess so that it can be taken in committee during July and September?

I would prefer if the Deputy asked compendious questions about specific promised legislation.

I checked my record on crime legislation but could not find any. I thought the Taoiseach might be able to inform me.

There are approximately four pages of legislation promised in the justice area and if the Deputy wishes to put down a question about specific legislation I will be more than happy to provide the answer.

What legislation on crime will be introduced before the summer recess?

I recall an occasion when in a feat of parliamentary bravura, approximately half the total complement of the Opposition party asked questions about promised legislation which took approximately three-quarters of an hour. If the Deputy checks the record I am sure he will find legislation relating to crime about which he can ask further questions if he wants an update. I have a four page list of legislation in the justice area, all at various stages of preparation.

The Government does not have a legislative programme.

If the Deputy puts down a question on specific legislation I will be happy to give him the information.

The Taoiseach has no idea what is happening.

The information is under lock and key.

Let us hear the Deputy in possession.

Will the Taoiseach outline the legislation in the crime area that will be published before the summer recess?

I am not in a position to give that information unless the Deputy puts down a question about specific legislation. If he does that I will tell him when I expect it to be published.

The Taoiseach should read out his four page list.

We will do everything we can to ensure that sufficient legislation is taken on Second Stage before the summer recess so that the committees can function effectively during the recess in dealing with Committee Stages. One of the objectives of the Government in the management of its legislative programme is to have the maximum amount of legislation available to be taken in the committee system during the summer recess.

There is no legislation on crime.

Given the Taoiseach's commitment to openness and transparency, can I ask him if a member of the Cabinet tended his or her resignation to him in the past week?

The Deputy can ask the question, but the answer is no. The Deputy's party has a penchant for spreading rumours not known to exist in any other party. This idle speculation can be knocked.

Do not mention the wall.

What is the present status of the Law Reform Commission's report on bail? Will he request that it be expedited or does he intend to hang this out to dry in the manner he hung the Minister for Justice out to dry?

There is no specific legislation promised in that regard.

The Minister for Justice promised it.

As the House is aware, the Government is examining the question of reform of the bail law and whether reform of the Constitution would be necessary to facilitate that. That matter is under examination, and Members are well aware of that.

Where will we put them?

Is the Taoiseach aware of the contradiction in what he stated and the recent actions by the Government? In this context, is he convincingly telling the House that the bail laws will be reformed even though he has postponed, deferred or abandoned the building of new prisons?

I am getting used to answering the same question four, five and six times for Members on the other side of the House who have difficulty in absorbing what I am saying. The position is that that matter is being examined by the Government, with the help of the Law Reform Commission. When we have reached a conclusion we will decide whether legislation is necessary. As of now, there is no specific legislation promised but there may be legislation promised and implemented at a later stage when our investigation is completed.

The Minister for Justice promised it.

I take it no member of the Cabinet offered his or her resignation last week. Is that the case?

The Deputy certainly can take it that that is the case. How is the rumour factory going?

Will the Taoiseach say what he intends to do on the decision by the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht to lodge an objection to planning permission for the Masonite project in County Leitrim which had the full support of this and the previous Government.

Let us proceed to the business proper.

This is a relevant question for the people in need of jobs in County Leitrim. The Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht has deserted the House.

Can we expect a statement from the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with responsibility for rural development, given the deferral of a project that would have brought jobs to County Leitrim? The people of County Leitrim have been abandoned by this Government and we have a Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht who agreed to a Louisiana proposal in Waterford on the basis that we would have a west of Ireland project.

Deputy Cowen knows this is not the appropriate time to raise that issue. I cannot allow him to proceed with it.

That represents an absolutely disgraceful attack on the few job creation projects we brought forward in the west.

Will the Taoiseach say whether it is proposed to amend the Derelict Sites Act to render the Government immune to prosecution for the derelict sites in places like Luggala, Mullaghmore, Castlerea and Carrick-on-Shannon?

There is a lot of dereliction in the Deputy's Party.

The Taoiseach should talk to the people there.

There are a couple of derelicts on the Government backbenches.

Will the Taoiseach give the House a commitment to talk to the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, and ask him to take the necessary action to withdraw the unprecedented objection that has been lodged in his name?

Where was he when the planning permission was going through?

Will the Taoiseach inform the House when the equal status Bill will be introduced?

I expect that legislation will be available next year.

Is the Taoiseach aware that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry travelled to Carrick-on-Shannon to announce this project? Has he discussed the matter with the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht who is now opposing his ministerial colleague?

It is disgraceful that 300 jobs have been deferred in County Leitrim. Will the Taoiseach say when the urban rail Bill will be introduced? Can he inform the House whether the people of Greystones can rely on the Government to honour the long-standing commitment to extend the DART since it has now come to light that the board of CIE did not sanction the recent ministerial announcement which was totally political?

Late this year.

We were given lectures last week on how State companies should behave, yet the board of a semi-State company has not even seen or sanctioned a project announced by a Government Minister. What about the accountability of semi-State companies?

The Taoiseach sent one Minister to announce the project and claim credit for it, even though it had been sanctioned by the previous administration, and another Minister, a party to a previous administration, is now objecting to it.

I am moving on to item No. 3. I will call the Deputy if he has something pertinent to raise but I will not allow him to pursue that issue.

I am entitled to know whether this Government is behind the Masonite project. This is unprecedented and an absolute disgrace. The Taoiseach is smirking at the idea of 300 jobs not going ahead in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Deputy Cowen will please resume his seat.

Can we take it the Taoiseach intends to talk to the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, who had not even viewed the site before lodging a planning objection? He had not even the courtesy to go and look at it?

Will the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Carey, be in the House this evening?

To give his response to the objections lodged with An Bord Pleanála.

The Deputy's Government hi-jacked the project, a major wood pulp industry, and brought it down to Waterford.

The Taoiseach should talk to the Minister.

Five hundred jobs thrown out the window.

Total untruths on the part of Deputy Nealon.