The Ceann Comhairle will probably not throw me out for paying him a compliment.
Order of Business (Resumed).
That would be quite unusual. Do I deserve it?
It is well deserved. The House changed the repeat rule recently in order to allow Deputies to raise questions more frequently. Whether at the behest of the Government or not I am unsure, but the Departments were using a very strict interpretation of the repeat rule and what are termed "reference replies". I thank the Ceann Comhairle for his insistence that a certain practice be adopted in relation to these——
I do not wish to appear ungracious but the Chair has merely done its duty.
——and I thank the Chair for that. I insist that the Taoiseach withdraw his Government's instructions to Departments to refer to previous questions without references.
Now I know why the Deputy paid me a compliment.
I congratulate the Taoiseach on his nomination as European of the Year. He is trying to keep it quite so I hope he is not embarrassed.
In relation to A Government of Renewal, paragraph 71 states:
Following consultations with the social partners, we will publish an Administrative Procedures Act, with the aim of securing maximum compliance with the tenets of good public administration.
The Deputy should refrain from quoting material.
Paragraph 72 promises legislation to extend the remit of the Ombudsman. When are those two pieces of legislation to be introduced?
This legislation is at a comparatively early stage of preparation.
Will the Government consider issuing a stamp to commemorate the death of Colmcille on Iona 1,400 years ago? The British Government has agreed to do so and I am sure the Taoiseach would like to be associated with that.
That topic is the subject of a question.
On promised legislation, when will the school attendance Bill be introduced and is the current work-to-rule in the Department of Education in Athlone impacting on the preparation of that Bill? Will the Minister for Education make a statement on that dispute today?
The legislation will be available in the first half of the year.
I plead with the Taoiseach to insist that the Minister for Education withdraw her regulation in relation to Drogheda vocational education committee, which is very close to his heart. She is abolishing Drogheda vocational education committee and the Taoiseach's candidate in Drogheda is for the retention of that vocational education committee. He should have listened to that candidate speak at a recent meeting.
I was present at the meeting and the Deputy was not.
I was not invited, which is a change of practice.
I express my gratitude to the Taoiseach for the tremendous work of one of his party members, Mrs. Mary Banotti MEP.
These congratulations are becoming unbearable.
Two of the Taoiseach's Ministers have dropped the ball and allowed butter vouchers to be halved. Does the Taoiseach intend to introduce legislation to restore butter vouchers to their full value?
It is a burning issue.
That matter does not require legislation.
I ask Deputy Finucane to withdraw that remark which is insulting to the poor. This is no joking matter. People have had their butter vouchers cut in two and a Fine Gael Deputy says that it is a laughing matter, which it is not.
I said that it was a burning issue.
The Deputy should not be misrepresented.
On promised health legislation, will the Taoiseach indicate if it will address the problems of over 2,000 people with disabilities who are being denied services?
The Deputy should put down a question to the Minister for Health.
Will Deputy Finucane withdraw his remark?
Deputy Woods is not being gracious.
Will Deputy Woods comment on the remarks of Mr. Brian Crowley, MEP, of his party when he advised nurses to reject the pay deal offered to them? Deputy Joe Walsh cut the butter vouchers.
This is no laughing matter.
(Interruptions.)
The Chair might be helped by the avoidance of interruptions.
On promised legislation, when will the inland waterways Bill be introduced?
That legislation is currently under consideration and we except to have the heads of the Bill in the next two months.