I wish to raise two matters. The Central Bank reported yesterday the limited progress on dealing with longer-term mortgage arrears. Only 6% of those in mortgage difficulty have been given a permanent rescheduling of their debt, with 19% given a temporary arrangement and no assistance whatsoever for the rest. These are dismal statistics. I ask the Tánaiste to indicate what the Government intends to do about it, in particular, when the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Bill will be implemented.

I ask the Tánaiste to clarify why the Taoiseach, Deputy Kenny, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, and the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, met with the tobacco industry earlier this month. This is disturbing news, given that the industry's sole objective in life is to sell cigarettes and to target young people in particular-----

That is not strictly in accordance with Standing Orders.

-----so that they will become addicted at a very young age. The Minister is promising legislation to curb further the negative impact of tobacco on young people in particular. This is an addiction which kills thousands of people. We are also promised legislation on lobbying and lobbyists. The history of the tobacco industry reflects and reveals one of the worst examples of behind-the-scenes lobbying of governments across Europe and the world. It has had a devastating impact on the lives of children and people across countries and continues to do so. I would like to know why the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Justice and Equality-----

The Deputy knows this is not in order.

-----met with the tobacco industry. I ask the Tánaiste to indicate when the Bill on lobbying will be brought forward.

The Central Bank report contains the same information as was made public in March. This is the information pertaining to 2012. Many things have happened since the end of 2012, such as the introduction of the personal insolvency legislation, with the result that the Personal Insolvency Service will be up and running by the end of June. Targets have now been set for the banks to make resolution offers to people in mortgage distress. The target has been set that 50% of those in mortgage arrears will be made resolution offers by the end of this year. Considerable progress has already been made in respect of the mortgage arrears issue since the period to which that report applied.

The Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Bill is awaiting Report Stage. The Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill is on Committee Stage in the Seanad. In reply to Deputy Martin's question, the Government meets with industry representatives at different levels as this is part of the normal work of government-----

It has not been the case with regard to the tobacco industry for a long time.

We cannot have a debate on the matter.

The issue of what Deputy Martin calls behind-the-scenes lobbying was a feature of the Governments in which he served for a very long period of time-----

That is not fair; the Tánaiste should withdraw that remark.

That is why we have felt it necessary to bring in legislation on the regulation of lobbying-----

He should check the Labour Party officials in the past. They were the most active with the tobacco industry. The Tánaiste should talk to former members of his party. The Labour Party were the greatest inside-trackers with the tobacco industry for a long time-----

Sorry, Deputy, this out of order.

------which will be introduced by the end of 2013.

The Tánaiste knows that.

The Deputy asked a question.

I do not want any misleading replies.

Just a moment, we are not having a debate across the floor. The Deputy should table a parliamentary question.

There are no misleading replies.

Can the Tánaiste not answer a question without partisan misinformation-----

The shelves of the offices of every Member of this House are creaking with the weight of reports from tribunals about the back-door lobbying that was engaged in by Fianna Fáil Ministers down the years.

What about the Moriarty tribunal?

We are bringing in a regulation of lobbying Bill which will provide-----

We are not having a debate on this, please.

-----a register of lobbyists. The heads of the Bill were approved-----

Former Labour Party officials-----

The Deputy should listen to the progress.

The Tánaiste should listen before he throws stones.

I am answering the Deputy's question. He should not be so arrogant. He asked a question and I am answering it. He wants to know about legislation-----

Please allow the Tánaiste to reply to the question.

-----to register lobbyists. This Government is bringing in a Bill to register lobbyists. We approved the heads of the Bill on 30 April and it will be published this year. It is long overdue and it is high time that we have legislation that will register and control the activities of lobbyists and lobbying in this country.