It should abolish the Dáil. Things would get done much more quickly.

Please.

Ar an gcéad dul síos-----

The Taoiseach is like his predecessors.

May we please have order?

Ar an gcéad dul síos, I reject any assessment that as rural Independents or any other group, we are anti-democratic. We are not. We are elected by the people, democratic and entitled to do what we want to do.

The programme for Government commits to a review of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 and the preparation of amendments to it. Where is this legislation? I understand from replies to parliamentary questions that Fine Gael-led Governments from 2011 to 2016 spent €606 million on free legal aid. Where will this bonanza for lawyers stop? I mean no disrespect to any lawyers in the House. We saw recently that a person who had appeared before the courts 102 times got free legal aid. This is a farce and must be regulated. Where is this Bill? When will we stop this gravy train and farce for the unfortunate victims of crime? They get no say and their taxes pay for free legal aid.

I will say for Deputy McGrath's benefit that the provision of legal aid, be it civil legal aid or criminal legal aid, is a fundamental right-----

Of course.

-----for people in this country who are not in a position-----

What about "three strikes and you are out"?

-----to afford legal representation in the private sector.

A hundred times.

Regarding the recent publication of the annual report on civil legal aid, we have managed in spite of some financial difficulties to ensure that waiting lists have been reduced in the past year or more, and this will continue. As far as criminal legal aid is concerned, which I understand is the point that concerns Deputy Mattie McGrath, I assure the House that a review is ongoing in order to ensure that those who need legal aid are granted it-----

How often?

-----with a corresponding proviso that those who can afford to pay for their legal representation do so. I expect to bring proposals to the House next term.