asked the Minister for Justice his legislative programme for the next 12 months and the title of each proposed Bill.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Legislative Programmes.
38.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a similar question on 16th May, 1974 (Dáil Debates Volume 272, columns 1720 and 1721.
A Cheann Comhairle, is it fair that in answer to a very reasonable question I am told to refer to the Dáil Debates of 16th May, 1974? Would the Minister not have the courtesy to give the details sought by me? What was the answer of 16th May, 1974? Has the Minister got it in his brief?
It is quite clear the Deputy has forgotten that he put down the question.
I must bring to the attention of the House at all opportunities the lack of any progress in the matter of law reform, and I shall continue to put down this question. May I ask the Minister what the reply was to the question of 16th May, 1974, and will the same answer be given when I put down this question in six months' time?
I have given the Deputy the reference to the Official Report in which he will find my reply to an exactly similar question by him on the matter.
Has there been no advance in the situation in seven months?
Of course there has not.
There has been an advance in seven months.
Is it not fair then to say, on the basis of the Minister's reply, that there has been no advance in the Minister's legislative programme on law reform since 16th May, 1974?
If the Deputy would allow me to answer his question, there have been advances, and two very important Bills of social import, the Adoption Act and the Maintentunitie ance Order Act, have both gone through the House.
Is it not true——
(Interruptions.)
——that legislation was proposed by the Fianna Fáil Party when we were in Government and the Minister did nothing about it?
Adoption was a matter which was there for years and they did nothing about it.
Does the Minister appreciate that one of his predecessors in Government, a Fine Gael Minister, refused point blank to introduce legislation to enable legal adoption of children.
I am not aware of that.
The Minister can take it from me that that is the case.
It may have been a long time ago.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.