Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
451. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the general scheme of the certain institutional burials (authorised interventions) Bill. [41373/20]
View answerIn December 2019, the then Government approved the drafting of a Bill along the lines of the General Scheme of the Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill 2019. It was then referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee (JOC) on Children and Youth Affairs for pre-legislative scrutiny and, in parallel, to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) to be drafted as a Bill along the lines outlined. The JOC had scheduled pre-legislative scrutiny but this did not proceed due to the dissolution of the Dáil on 14 January.
Although pre-legislative scrutiny has not yet occurred, the OPC have – subject to other significant and often urgent demands on them – proceeded with drafting the Bill in close consultation with Department officials.
I intend to formally re-submit the General Scheme to the JOC on Children, Disability, Integration and Youth early in the new Dáil term so that pre-legislative scrutiny can take place.
