Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:409 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his legislative priorities for 2003 and for the remainder of the 29th Dáil. [6320/03]
Written Answers - Proposed Legislation.
I propose to progress over the coming months and for the remainder of the 29th Dáil a substantial programme of legislation, reflecting the broad spectrum of my Department's responsibilities, with the continuing co-operation of the Houses and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. The Bills that have been published and are at various Stages before the Houses are the Whistleblowers Protection Bill 1999, the Patents (Amendment) Bill 1999, the Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Bill 2002 and the Companies (Auditing and Accounting Bill) 2003.
I also wish to progress a number of Bills, not yet before the Houses, for which the Government has approved draft general schemes. These Bills relate to employment permits, the protection of employees on fixed term contracts, the industrial and provident societies, safety, health and welfare at work Bill and redundancy. As approved by Government, the general scheme of a Bill to consolidate company law Acts and regulations and implement the recommendations in the first report of the company law review group is being drafted. In light of the negotiations on the new social partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress, I am considering the need for legislation to further amend the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2001 to take account of new procedures agreed with the social partners. In the context of the insurance reform programme, I am also developing proposals to establish a personal injuries assessment board on a statutory basis. I will also progress a programme of secondary legislation, including the transposition of EU directives, over the coming months.