asked the Taoiseach if he will furnish broad details of the Government's legislative programme for the period to June 1979.
3.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Legislative Programme.
2.
asked the Taoiseach if he will inform the Dáil twice a year, or at such regular intervals as he may consider more convenient, the legislation that the Government propose to introduce during the period up to the next such announcement.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
Notification of the Government's legislative programme will be given on the Order of Business each day and the usual advance indication will be given by the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach to the Opposition Whips.
Does the Taoiseach accept that it is unsatisfactory that the Government should proceed in regard to legislation on an ad hoc week to week basis? Does the Taoiseach further accept that the preparation of a planned programme would have the additional advantage of encouraging informed discussion on the proposals in that programme?
Would the Deputy like me to make a Queen's Speech?
I would not regard the Taoiseach as having any resemblance to the Queen. Does the Taoiseach accept my view, that this would be of benefit to the Dáil and the country? Would he consider that the preparation and publication of a planned programme of this nature would be of benefit?
The Deputy made that point.
The Deputy has a point but from time to time on reasonable notice indications are given in advance of what legislation the Government have in mind up to the end of a particular term, for example. That practice will certainly be continued.
I put it to the Taoiseach that the legislative programme which I remember preparing once or twice a year when I was Chief Whip and which is marked "strictly confidential" and contains the material which our questions are aimed at—I could never understand why that information was strictly confidential, and I cannot see why the Taoiseach would not consider publishing the legislative programme pretty well in the form in which it reaches the Government twice a year, although I agree this is a new idea.
The Deputy referred to the fact that that circulation is usually marked "strictly confidential" and it is usually confined to Government Ministers. I am sure the Deputy realises the need for confidentiality because there is always a reason why certain Bills are not proceeding as they might. Sometimes there are difficulties with the Attorney General, sometimes with the Department concerned and sometimes because of objections raised by another Department. It is only reasonable that these matters should be regarded as confidential.
I accept that, but an abstract from that programme could, without prejudice to the public interest, be submitted to the House twice a year.