I am pleased to brief the House on the outcome of the Spring meeting of the European Council which took place in Brussels on 14 and 15 March.

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will publish the consultation paper on the proposed aviation policy; the main themes that this policy will cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to publish the report on the consultation on the strategy plan on forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Health the percentage of the 2000 plus respondents to the consultation on a proposal for an EU Directive on the Tobacco Products Directive that were for or against the changes proposed by the EU Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister James Reilly, has welcomed figures released by the Department of Health which show dramatic decreases in the waiting times in Beaumont Hospital for inpatient and daycase patients.

Local TD /Minister James Reilly today welcomed the approval in principle of Fingal County Council’s Preliminary Report which sets out proposals to upgrade and expand the Balbriggan Water Supply Scheme over a number of Phases. Approval has also been given for Phase 2 of the scheme, the Jordanstown to Kilsough Watermain contract, to proceed.

Mortgage Arrears Speech

These are very encouraging statistics on how the Government is tackling waiting lists at Navan hospital. Despite reduced budgets, we now have a situation where no one is waiting more than nine months for an inpatient or day case procedure in Navan

Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, has today announced details of the allocation of €2.75 million to support the ongoing improvement of the childcare sector.