I wrote to the Taoiseach on 14 July as Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality and I have not received a substantive reply in the over three months since. I was bringing to his attention a number of Private Members' Bills that are queued for address in the justice and equality committee. This is a very serious matter because it is having an impact on the effectiveness of the committee system and, I believe, the structures of our parliamentary institutions in Leinster House. I instanced a number of Bills and I only received some days later an acknowledgement from the assistant private secretary stating that my correspondence would be brought to the Taoiseach's attention. Has it been brought to his attention? This concerns not only the Bills I itemised in the correspondence from the justice committee, but also, from questions I have posed, I have established that there are 18 Private Members' Bills queued, awaiting money messages.

I thank the Deputy.

If I may conclude on this point, a Cheann Comhairle, I believe that this money message requirement is being used to undermine the passage of Private Members' Bills that have already gone through Second Stage in this Chamber and that it is a very serious matter that is having a most deleterious impact on the workings of this institution and on the public understanding of the work-----

The Deputy needs to conclude.

-----that has been entrusted to us. Will the Taoiseach look into this matter? Will he either ensure that the money message is delivered or at least have the courtesy of providing the advice that it is not to be delivered and the reasons therefor?

Before I call Deputy Brady, who has a question on the same matter, I wish to point out that when a party leader asks a question, we do not take a question from someone else of the same party. However, when we move on to other Members, a Member raising the same matter can be called. Is Deputy Brady's question on this matter?

It is on the same matter. The Taoiseach will know that I brought forward legislation in February to abolish the mandatory retirement age. It received cross-party support on Second Stage in this Chamber. It ended up in the justice committee and went through pre-committee scrutiny. That is seven months ago. I have written twice to the Minister, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, and likewise have not received any response. We are waiting for a money message. My Bill is one of 18 pieces of opposition legislation stacked up there and, for whatever reason, no response or money message has been received. I do not know whether this is a deliberate attempt to bury these critically important pieces of legislation, particularly this one, which received cross-party support. We need a response. The people out there who are being forced to retire against their will need a response on this, they need a money message and it needs to be progressed immediately.

Legislation that requires expending public money, that is, taxpayers' money, requires a money message from the Government. Under our Constitution, that is the prerogative of the Government, not a decision of the Oireachtas. However, I will take a look at Deputy Ó Caoláin's correspondence. I do recall seeing it. My office is somewhat inundated at present by-----

Spin.

-----correspondence from Sinn Féin Deputies. It seems to be their new strategy-----

Excuse me, the correspondence is from the justice and equality committee-----

It is from the Chairman of the committee.

-----to write to me about almost everything.

-----and surely that structure is entitled to the courtesy of a prompt reply.

The Taoiseach does not understand courtesy.

I will make sure that the Deputy receives a reply.