Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 October 2023
152. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a list of general schemes referred by her Department to an Oireachtas committee for pre-legislative scrutiny from 1 January 2016 to date; the date each was referred; the date that the general scheme was published for the public to review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42957/23]
View answerThe Government approved an expansion and reinforcement of the arrangements for pre-legislative scrutiny in September 2013. A number of new Standing Orders to underpin these new arrangements came into effect on 5 November 2013.
In order to clarify the operation of these new Standing Orders, an Agreed Protocol for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Heads of Bills by Oireachtas Committees was published in September 2014. This Agreed Protocol provides that certain Bills are exempted from the requirements for pre-legislative scrutiny, including Bills which are required to implement Budget changes such as the Finance Bill and the Social Welfare (Budget) Bill, “emergency” Bills and Bills that were at an advanced stage of drafting at the time the Standing Orders were adopted. For example, the Social Welfare Bills enacting amendments arising from the various Budgets and the Social Welfare (COVID-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020 (Bill No. 14 of 2020) which was an emergency bill were exempt from pre-legislative scrutiny.
A list of a list of general schemes referred for pre-legislative scrutiny from 1 January 2016 from the Department of Social Protection to date is set out in the table below (in reverse chronological order):
Bills Initiated by Minister for Social Protection which have received Pre-Legislative Scrutiny
|
Title of Bill |
Date Heads of Bill referred to Committee for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny |
Status |
|
Social Welfare - State Pensions Reform Bill 2023 |
4 August 2023 |
Department published General Scheme on 21 September 2023. |
|
Social Welfare (Child Maintenance & Liable Relatives) Bill 2023 |
13 July 2023 |
Department published General Scheme on 28 August 2023. |
|
Civil Registration (Electronic Registration) Bill 2023 |
1 June 2023 |
As per Section 4.18 of Cabinet handbook the General Scheme was not published by the Department. |
|
Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2022 |
17 January 2023 |
General Scheme was published by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands on 14 February 2023. |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2017 |
1 June 2017 |
As per Section 4.18 of Cabinet handbook the General Scheme was not published by the Department. |
