Ivor Callely
Question:107 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the legislative and administrative priorities of his Department in 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5277/96]
Written Answers. - Departmental Priorities.
For a comprehensive list of all legislation being prepared by my Department I refer the Deputy to the reply given recently to Deputy Frances Fitzgerald (Vol. 460, No. 3 of 23 January 1996). In addition to the legislative proposals listed in that reply the following Bills are currently before the Oireachtas; Competition (Amendment) Bill; Trade Marks Bill; Metrology Bill; Protection of Young Persons Bill.
As a matter of priority I intend to bring the following Bills before the Dáil as soon as the necessary consultation and drafting stages have been finalised: Irish Steel Bill — to allow for the sale of Irish Steel to ISPAT; NSAI Bill — to establish the NSAI as an independent statutory body; Irish Take-Over Panel Bill — to provide for the establishment of a Take-Over Panel to operate following the separation of the Dublin Stock Exchange from London; Credit Union Bill — to consolidate and update legislation on the operation and supervision of Credit Unions. Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Bill — to implement an EU Directive; Organisation of Working Time Bill — to implement an EU Directive.
Preliminary consultations are ongoing in regard to a number of other Bills which I expect to be able to introduce in the Dáil later this year or early next year. Specifically, the issues addressed in these Bills will be the need for prompt payment to small business, amendments to company law, the requirement to ratify the UN Convention on chemical weapons, and copyright law.
My Department's overriding mission for 1996 will be the promotion of employment. My goal is to target resources effectively and efficiently towards this end. I also intend to publish a statement outlining the policy and administrative priorities for my Department in the near future.