Tá dhá cheist agam, ceann amháin faoin public sector standards Bill agus ceann eile faoin Health Act 2007. Yesterday the Government agreed to publish the draft general scheme of the public sector standards Bill, which is intended to replace the Standards in Public Office Commission. It is a very belated response to the recommendations made by the Mahon and Moriarty tribunals, one in 2011 and the other in 2012. It has taken three years to produce the draft scheme of this Bill, which will now go into consultation until September. When does the Taoiseach expect the Bill to be published? Realistically, does he believe there is any hope of it being passed into law before the next general election?

On the Health Act 2007, the Minister for Health has finally instructed his officials to draw up the heads of a Bill to give new powers to HIQA. I welcome this, but it is four months after he announced this. However, we know that HIQA's recommendations are often ignored by the Minister and the Department. HIQA has said that had its recommendations been implemented, the risks to emergency departments, which even today dominate the front page of the Irish Independent, would have been significantly reduced. The INMO has said that May was the worst month on record for patients on trolleys. We had the disgraceful sight of two elderly patients, both of them born before the 1916 Rising-----

The Deputy must appreciate that is the Order of Business.

When will the promised Bill be published? Is it expected that the heads will be sent to committee for discussion? Can the Taoiseach ensure that it contains robust mechanisms to ensure that HIQA recommendations are fully and speedily implemented?

The heads of the public sector standards Bill have been cleared by Government and it has gone for consultation. The Mahon tribunal went on for many years. Many of the recommendations have been implemented. Some remain to be implemented and are included in the heads approved by Government. That will go for consultation and people will be fully entitled to have their say and make their views known either for or against other matters to be included or whatever. I do not know how long that process will take in the committee. I expect this Bill to become law before the next general election.

When is the election?

For some reason, everything now seems to be related to those two words, "general election".

Cathain a bheidh sé?

What date is that?

We are proceeding with normal business here, and there is a great deal of legislation to draft, deal with and discuss.

He did not say.

Regarding the Health Act 2007, in respect of HIQA, the Government gave approval on 9 June to the Minister and the Department to set out and draft the heads of the Bill to which Deputy Adams is referring. That work is under way. It will go for public consultation and before the committee in the normal way.