Vol. 481 No. 7
87 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Bills under the heading of justice and those under the general heading of equality and law reform he will publish over the next 12 months; his views on whether these two areas are of equal priority; and, if so, the way in which he intends to maintain that priority. [17088/97]
The legislative priorities of my Department are as announced on 25 September 1997 by the Chief Whip in the Government's programme of legislation. Some 28 Bills in my area of ministerial responsibility are mentioned and they are indicative of the strength of my commitment to balanced, wideranging reform in criminal, civil and equality law.
The Bills meet needs in one form or another and there is no question of the priority of different measures being in any way diminished on the basis of whether they would previously have been the responsibility of the former Departments of Justice or Equality and Law Reform. As I have indicated to the House previously, the combined resources and expertise of both former Departments in the new Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform will be well placed to address the very formidable agenda facing it.
It is in the nature of advancing as comprehensive a legislative programme as that being undertaken in my Department at present, that the Bills in question, having regard to such matters as size, complexity and the need to consult with Departments and interest groups, are at various stages of preparation and it is inevitable that some Bills can be delivered and processed more quickly than others. I shall endeavour to implement the full legislative programme as quickly as possible.
