Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 June 2007
267 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will cite any and all examples whereby decisions made have been overturned or amended under section 22 of the Interpretation Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17863/07]
View answerIn accordance with specific provisions of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and the Pensions Act 1990, I am empowered to make regulations governing the operation and administration of the social welfare and supplementary pensions code. Given the nature and range of statutory social welfare schemes provided for in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, the regulations governing these schemes are, of necessity, amended on an ongoing basis. In general, these regulations provide for Budgetary and other changes in these schemes such as increases in the weekly rates of payment. Similarly, the statutory instruments made in accordance with the Pensions Act 1990 are reviewed, and, where necessary, amended to further strengthen the regulatory regime in relation to occupational pensions. In progressing my Department's commitment to regulatory reform, a number of social welfare Statutory Instruments have been repealed, or repealed in part, since the commencement of the Interpretation Act on 1 January 2006. Any such repeals were effected under the general regulatory powers contained in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, to which section 22 of the Interpretation Act 2005 applies, and were undertaken in the context of my Department's programme of legislation consolidation, and in the interests of better regulation generally.
