asked the Taoiseach if he will give an up-to-date report on the work of the Law Reform Commission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Law Reform Commission
6.
Pursuant to section 6 of the Law Reform Commission Act, 1975, the commission have submitted to the Attorney General a report on their activities for the years 1978 and 1979. I am submitting the report to the Government and it will be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas in the very near future.
Is the Taoiseach satisfied with the pace of progress resulting from the work of the Law Reform Commission, particularly in the area of legislative initiative?
It would not be appropriate for me to comment. Perhaps when the Deputy has an opportunity of studying the report we can discuss it further. The commission have been disappointed at the level of response particularly from Members of the Oireachtas, about the various proposals put forward.
Perhaps the Taoiseach misinterpreted my question. I was not in any way critical but was raising the question of the follow-up by the Government in regard to the introduction of legislative proposals arising out of some of the suggestions made by the commission.
There has not been an opportunity as yet to proceed more rapidly but I hope with the appontment of a Minister of State at the Department of Justice that we will be able to make much more rapid progress in the area of law reform.
Would the Taoiseach accept that there is great urgency in this area? The word "progress" seems inappropriate because there has not been a single initiative arising out of the work of the commission.
The proposals from the Law Reform Commission were not in a form which would enable the Oireachtas immediately to come to grips with them. A great deal more work must be done on the various subjects before legislation could be put forward.
Would the Taoiseach give priority to this?
Yes.
On a point of order, I think I am right in saying that the Taoiseach indicated—in reply to a supplementary question—that he was answering Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together and that in his view they were related. Is the record of the House to stand that both questions were answered separately?
No.
We have long passed Questions Nos. 4 and 5. I am now calling Question No. 7.
Arising out of the Taoiseach's reply to the question on the Law Reform Commission, I have read four or five reports and the only thing for which they are notable is their unimportance as to the subjects discussed. Is it not a fact that the Attorney General has power under the Act to ask the commission to consider certain reforms? Would the Taoiseach contemplate asking them to consider the whole question of the disability of absence of divorce in the Constitution as a special problem——
No.
We are now on Question No. 6.
——to be considered in the light of the increasing demand for divorce and the increasing need for it?
No.
I am calling Question No. 7.
Fair enough, Sir.