I also wish the Ceann Comhairle, all the Members and all the staff of the House a very happy and restful Christmas, as we reinvigorate ourselves.

On a matter of secondary legislation, which would be familiar to the Tánaiste, when will the transfer of powers to the Policing Authority to make appointments in the ranks of senior Garda occur? We have been waiting for this to happen for many months. I understood that initially the statutory instruments were drawn up six months ago, but the transfer has not happened yet. When will this particular secondary legislation be signed by the Tánaiste and when will that power transfer so the outstanding appointments can be made?

The regulations will go to Cabinet next Tuesday.

Why could the transfer not have happened before Christmas?

There were a lot of legal issues which needed to be dealt with and they turned out to be more complex than originally envisaged. The regulations will go to Cabinet next Tuesday and the power will transfer, as was always envisaged, on 1 January.