Bills to be pushed through before recess

The Government is determined to push through 12 pieces of legislation before the end of next week in advance of the general election.

The Government Chief Whip, Mr Séamus Brennan, has organised that the legislation will be dealt with over six sitting days so that it will be passed through the Dáil in advance of the Easter break. The Dáil will sit for three days next week.

This will give the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the freedom to call the general election immediately the Dáil returns on April 17th. However he may not do so until a week later.

Senior Fianna Fáil sources insist that Mr Ahern has not yet told them when in May the general election will be held. "He hasn't told me; he probably hasn't told himself," said one source yesterday. "Talking about it at the Fianna Fáil women's conference recently he said that he would go down to Kerry for a break at Easter and would 'look into the waters'."

It has been speculated that polling would be held on a Saturday, however this was being discounted by Fianna Fáil sources yesterday. The best estimates now are either Thursday May 9th or 16th or Friday May 10th or 17th.

The legislative programme for this week and next covers the Government's priorities. The Seanad will need to sit the week after Easter to complete the passage of all stages of the legislation through the Oireachtas.

The Social Welfare Bill, which provides for the changes in the Budget, is expected to pass through the Dáil before the end of this week. The Road Traffic Bill, which will provide for the introduction of a penalty points system, will also be passed, a well as legislation on smoking and the Gas Regulation Bill.

The Electoral (Amendment) Bill, which provides that anyone who wishes to stand for election needs to get a certain number of signatures rather than pay a deposit, will also be dealt with.

The Tribunals of Inquiry Bill allows for the establishing of the tribunal of inquiry into allegations of Garda corruption in Donegal, as well as allowing it to hear evidence in private so that it would not prejudice any civil or criminal proceedings which are ongoing.

The Labour justice spokesman, Mr Brendan Howlin, criticised the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, yesterday, saying he had failed to honour commitments that there would be consultation with the Opposition parties regarding the establishment of that tribunal.

"Deputies have been informed that the Government plans to take all stages of the Tribunals of Inquiry Bill in less than three hours on Friday next, but the text of the Bill is not yet available and there has been no consultation as to its contents."

Next week the Court and Court Officers Bill, which provides for the three additional judges for the Flood tribunal and will enable solicitors of appropriate experience and qualification to be eligible for appointment as judges of the High Court and Supreme Court, is expected to be passed.

The other legislation to be dealt with is the Civil Defence Bill, the Pensions Bill, the Competition Bill and the Solicitors Bill.

The Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Bill will clarify the circumstances in which Travellers may be moved on. An amendment states that Travellers who camp within a mile of a recognised halting site may be moved on.

The Fine Gael local government and housing spokeswoman, Ms Olivia Mitchell, said the amendment clarified the situation relating to illegal encampments but "on its own the measure will not sort out the problems".