Climate Bill and benzodiazepines
Deputy Shortall presses for a pre-recess climate Bill and raises street availability of benzodiazepines; the Minister expects the Bill next session and promises to seek information on the drugs issue.
I wish to return to the climate change Bill. The Minister said it is at an advanced stage. We were promised it would come to the House before the summer. Is that out of the question now? Is there any prospect of the Bill being produced before the summer recess, and if not, could the Minister give a target month for when we will see it because there has been much delay with the legislation?
The second question relates to secondary legislation. It is in respect of the widespread availability of benzodiazepines, which are being traded on the streets and is a huge contributory factor to much substance abuse. It is two years since draft regulations were drawn up in the Department of Health and for some inexplicable reason they have not been signed. Could the Minister establish the reason for same and when we will get the long-promised legislation?
Comment on this
On the second matter, I will seek to establish the position from the Minister for Health and I will write to the Deputy. On the question of the climate change Bill, there is some hope it will be published before the House rises, but personally I do not think that is the case because I have had a peripheral involvement and there are some big issues. I expect the Bill will be published at the beginning of the next session.