Mary Lou McDonald
Question:94. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he will publish an updated version of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2010. [45972/13]
View answerTuesday, 5 November 2013
Questions (94)
Written answers
As I have outlined previously to the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, it is my considered view that instead of engaging in an extremely cumbersome process of tabling hundreds of amendments to the 2010 Bill it would be much more efficient to publish a new and enhanced text. Such an approach can incorporate the many anticipated amendments while addressing key outstanding issues, several of which have been of concern to Members. This proposition was broadly welcomed by the Joint Committee. Work on the Bill continues, therefore, on that basis, including in co-operation with the Offices of Parliamentary Counsel and of the Attorney General while also taking account of any relevant rulings by the Courts. By necessity work on Trioka-related legislation such as the establishment of the Insolvency Service and reform of the delivery of legal services has been a priority for my Department. Pending the completion of this legislative workload, I expect that work on the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill will be advanced to enable it to be published as soon as resources allow.
Pending the enactment and commencement of the new legislation and with a view to improving processing in the area of international protection, I will be introducing new arrangements for the processing of subsidiary protection applications. The legislative provisions to underpin the new system for determining applications for subsidiary protection are currently being finalised in my Department in co-operation with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government. When these legislative provisions are settled, the intention is to bring the new applications processing arrangements into operation as soon as possible.