Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2013
157. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Taoiseach the reason printed copies of the Constitution are not currently available for purchase from the Government Publications Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40744/13]
View answerMy Department's policy is to have an appropriate stock of the popular edition of the Constitution available in the Government Publications Office and at other appropriate outlets at all times. Having regard to economic constraints, there is of course a need to ensure that the document is not over-stocked. On the last occasion on which a re-print was ordered - in May 2013 - the Department was conscious of the impending judgement in relation to the Thirty-first Amendment to the Constitution as well as of the forthcoming referendums which, if carried, will necessitate the publication of a revised edition of the Constitution. Accordingly, a lower than normal re-stock was ordered on that occasion.
The Department was recently notified by the Government Publications Office that stocks of the popular edition of the Constitution were running low and a small re-print of the current edition was ordered. This is being undertaken at the moment and delivery to the Government Publications Office is expected on Thursday. The Constitution is of course available on my Department's website as well as on the electronic Irish Statute Book.
