Ruairí Quinn
Question:6 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will list the proposed legislative programme for his Department during the remaining period of this Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21440/01]
Ceisteanna – Questions. - Legislative Programme.
Michael Noonan
Question:7 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the Government's legislative programme for the remainder of this Dáil term. [24822/01]
Trevor Sargent
Question:8 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the Government's planned legislative programme for this Dáil term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28548/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, together.
My Department has two Bills awaiting Second Stage in the Dáil, the Statute Law Restatement Bill and the Interpretation Bill. It is hoped to progress these Bills through the Houses in this session.
The only other item on my Department's legislative programme for this year is the National Economic and Social Development Office Bill. A draft Bill has been received from the parliamentary counsel and it is intended to have it considered shortly by Government and subsequently published. The Bill, listed on the Government's legislation programme as legislation expected to be published this session, will combine the National Economic and Social Council, the National Economic and Social Forum and the recently established National Centre for Partnership and Performance under a new statutory office. This will ensure close co-operation and co-ordination between these bodies given their complementary mandates in support of the partnership process at national, local and enterprise levels.
In parallel with the preparation of this legislation, the arrangements for the establishment of the National Economic and Social Development Office on a non-statutory basis are progressing, including the recruitment for the post of chief officer. The executive chairperson, the director and the council of the National Centre for Partnership and Performance have been appointed and I officially launched the centre on 22 October. I am satisfied that it will be possible for the National Economic and Social Development Office and the National Centre for Partnership and Performance to function effectively on an interim basis pending enactment of the Bill by the Oireachtas.
Will the Taoiseach explain the delay in the introduction of this legislation? Last February he said it was imminent and in July he said its drafting was virtually completed. It is necessary to put this new body on a statutory basis, notwithstanding the progress that has been made. Why is this legislation so far behind schedule?
I accept I told Deputy Quinn that a long time ago. He will recall it was initially delayed because of the involvement of the National Centre for Partnership. During the summer when I told the Deputy it was being drafted other priorities pushed it down the scale, but it is now ready. It is not holding up matters on an ad hoc basis, but I would like it to be enacted because the new centre and new office are opening up, the staff are in place and its enactment would tidy up this area. It will bring NESF and NCPP together. It would be better if the new office was set up on a statutory basis. I will try to ensure this legislation goes through as soon as possible.
Do the Taoiseach or his Department still adjudicate on the priority given to legislation proposed by other Departments for drafting purposes? What delay is there between the heads of a Bill being passed by Cabinet and it being given priority for drafting?
I have no direct involvement in that. The legislation committee, which meets weekly, still has that function. It decides the priority and the same procedure applies at Cabinet. If the heads of a Bill are passed and it is to receive priority for drafting, that is indicated at the time.
To what degree do drafting services currently match needs? What types of delays are being experienced in key legislation once the heads of Bills are passed by Cabinet?
As always, there is an enormous amount of legislation in one form or another. Even though the parliamentary counsel's office recently got a number of extra staff and also got extra staff three years ago, the drafting process can be quite slow on some legislation. As I said previously, we have endeavoured to get Departments to either have their own expertise or, in the case of more specialised Bills, to use outside services to keep the legislative programme moving.