asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the recent announcement of the Attorney General, he will state when legislation will be introduced concerning the law of nullity.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Law of Nullity.
1.
In August last a discussion paper on the law of nullity, prepared in the office of the Attorney General, was published and the views of interested members of the public were invited on the proposals for reform contained therein. I am not in a position to give any indication, at this stage, when amending legislation will be introduced.
Is the Minister aware that because of the unsatisfactory situation at present there is an urgency with regard to the immediate production of legislation on the matter?
The situation is not new, I regret to say. I am aware that it is a serious situation and it is to meet that situation that the Attorney General prepared the draft paper which was published and the views of the public were invited. As soon as those views have been received the matter will be dealt with urgently.
Has the Minister or the Attorney General any time scale in mind for the limitation on public representation so that the Government will have a fixed programme to introduce?
It is some time now since the paper was published and I do not want to anticipate what time limit may be placed on receiving submissions, but the Deputy may take it that a terminal date will probably be announced shortly.
Could the Minister let us know whether or not we might expect this legislation before Christmas?
The Deputy may take it that the legislation will not be ready before Christmas. The views of interested members of the public are being sought; when those views come in they will have to be examined and there might have to be further discussions with interested parties on those views. There is certainly no possibility of legislation before Christmas.