John Bruton
Question:12 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the current work programme of the Law Reform Commission. [15473/97]
Ceisteanna—Questions. - Law Reform Commission.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Law Reform Commission Act, 1975, the Commission prepared its first programme which was approved by the Government and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas in January 1977. The Commission advised that the majority of the topics listed in the first programme have now been dealt with in its published reports, consultation papers and working papers. Details of these are contained in appendices to the Commission's annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library.
In addition to the first programme, research undertaken at the request of successive Attorneys General as provided for in section 4(2)(c) of the Act also formed a substantial part of the Commission's work. Details of the research undertaken pursuant to these requests by the Attorney General are also to be found in appendices to the annual reports of the Commission.
The work currently in hands in the Commission includes examination of the following areas of the law: conveyancing law, on which the Commission hopes to publish a further report before the end of the year; the interpretation and drafting of legislation, on which a consultation paper is being prepared with a view to publication in 1998; the legal implications of the signing in 1996, by Ireland of the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoptions, 1993, on which a consultation paper is about to be published; the law of homicide, on which a working paper will be published in due course; and the law relating to trespass, with a view to dealing with problems caused by mobile traders and large mobile congregations of people.
Has the Taoiseach or the Attorney General requested any studies from the Law Reform Commission since coming to office?
We have made no requests to the Commission other than that it complete the current work programme. Some issues have been left over from some of the work it did last year and there has been consultation but no new work has been requested.
Is the Taoiseach considering making any requests to the Commission or has he no ideas about deficiencies in the law?
Consideration is being given to this. The 18th report, received at Easter, is being examined by the Attorney General and it has been discussed with me and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It will be brought before Government shortly. There are proposals in that report for consideration.
As the Deputy will be aware, the chairmanship of that body comes up for renewal shortly.
What are these proposals?
The proposals emanate from the last report of the Commission. The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform have put them to me, and I will put them to the Government shortly.