It was promised that a number of Bills would be published during this session including the Houses of the Oireachtas (inquiries, privileges and procedures) Bill and the protected disclosure in the public interest Bill. When is it hoped to publish the social welfare and pensions Bill?

In 2004, a White Paper on regulating better was produced, the purpose of which was to develop principles and practices to provide reassurance that regulation was being made in a transparent and accountable manner. The paper was distributed to all Deputies. Can the Taoiseach look at the White Paper again given the guillotines last week and the issues of property tax and taxi regulation? A process was set out in the White Paper whereby the House was encouraged to produce legislation through various stages including hearings on heads of Bills. In most cases, heads of Bills have not been discussed in the House since 2004 notwithstanding that we are supposed to discuss them before legislation is published. There has only been one instance since the Government took office when heads of a Bill were discussed by a committee before being published.

I did not catch the third question, after the questions on the Houses of the Oireachtas Bill and the whistleblower legislation.

It referred to the social welfare and pensions Bill. When will it be published, and will the heads of the Bill be published in advance?

That Bill will be taken this year. The Houses of the Oireachtas (inquiries, privilege and procedures) Bill and the whistleblower legislation are on track and on target for this session. The question of better regulation is something we must have a general discussion about. I would like to see further improvement in our capacity to do business competently and to give everyone an opportunity to talk.