asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will outline his proposals for legislation and his legislative priorities generally, with some indication of a timetable for the immediate future; and the basis on which that priority list has been drawn up.
Written Answers. - Legislative Proposals.
26.
I have a comprehensive schedule of proposed legislation, which I wish to have passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas as quickly as possible. As the details would be too cumbersome to provide orally I intend to supply the information requested by the Deputy in the form of a list which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
Proposed Legislation.
1. Companies (No. 2) Bill, 1987 — This Bill which aims to strengthen the Companies Act, 1963 and to introduce measures to curb abuses and malpractices in the management of companies is at Committee Stage in An Seanad.
2. Insurance Bill, 1987 — This Bill was introduced in Seanad Éireann on 8 October 1987, completed its Second Stage on 15 October and is awaiting Committee Stage. The purpose of this Bill is to increase ministerial supervisory powers in relation to insurance companies, to facilitate the regulation of commission payments to insurance intermediaries and to introduce a system for the regulation of insurance brokers and agents.
3. Restrictive Practices (Amendment) Bill, 1987 — At Committee Stage in the Dáil. The Bill aims to set up a new Fair Trade Commission to replace the Restrictive Practices Commission and to give wider powers for dealing with unfair trading practices.
4. Restrictive Practices (Confirmation of Order) Bill, 1987 — The Bill confirms the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order, 1987 and is at Committee Stage in this House.
5. Friendly Societies Regulations, 1987 — The draft Regulations are on the Dáil Order Paper. They are intended to raise financial limits for loans and deposits and to require Friendly Societies to adopt stricter supervisory procedures.
6. Consumer Credit (Consumer Information) Order, 1987 — The draft Order, which will require that any advertisement or notice that makes reference to the cost of credit must show the true cost of that credit by means of an annual percentage rate of charge (APR), is on the Dáil Order Paper and hopefully will be approved in the current session. The Seanad approved the draft Order last June.
7. IIRS/NBST Merger Bill, 1987 — The Government has decided that the functions of the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards (IIRS) and those of the National Board for Science and Technology (NBST) are to be combined in one organisation. The establishment of the new body is subject to the enactment of legislation; to be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas during the present session.
8. The Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 1987 — This Bill aims to increase the penalties for breaches of copyright, specifically video piracy. It also proposes to remove copyright protection from the drawings of functional objects. The Seanad has referred this back to the Dáil for consideration of its amendments.
9. Nitrigin Éireann Teoranta Bill (1987) — This Bill has passed all stages in the Dáil and has now been referred to the Seanad. The purpose of the Bill is to increase NET's facility to borrow under ministerial guarantee from £150 million to £180 million.
While it is my hope to have items 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 passed in the current session the Deputy will appreciate that all the above items are urgent and it is my intention to endeavour to have these dealt with as quickly as Parliamentary business will allow.