Legislative Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 January 2016

Tuesday, 19 January 2016

Questions (77, 80)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

77. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Taoiseach the total number of Bills that have been published by his Department since 9 March 2011; the number and Titles of those Bills that included a regulatory impact assessment in advance of publication; the regulatory impact assessments published; the total number of promised Bills for publication; if he will provide the Bills that will include a regulatory impact assessment; the regulatory impact assessments that will be published before publication of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45800/15]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

80. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a list of those Acts currently in force for which he has lead responsibility that have parts or sections yet to be formally commenced in tabular form; the details or purpose of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46079/15]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 80 together.

One Bill was published by my Department since 9 March 2011. It was the Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013, which was published in June 2013 further to a commitment in the Programme for Government. A regulatory impact analysis (RIA) is normally required for primary legislation but exceptions to this rule are set out in the relevant guidelines.

As the Bill concerned involved amending the Constitution for the purpose of abolishing the Seanad rather than significantly impacting on the regulatory environment, a RIA was not completed, in keeping with precedents for Bills of this nature.

One Bill is promised for publication by my Department, the National Economic and Social Council Bill. Work is underway on it in my Department at the moment. The Bill and any regulatory impact assessment will be published in due course.

My Department has no Acts currently in force for which I have lead responsibility that have parts or sections yet to be formally commenced.