Vol. 466 No. 6
16 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the further progress, if any, that has been made in drafting the Employment Equality Bill; when it is proposed to publish the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12013/96]
I am glad to tell the Deputy that considerable progress has been made in drafting this Bill. As the Minister indicated in response to parliamentary questions from Deputies Woods, Keogh, O'Malley, Kenneally and Sargent on 26 March last and, more recently, from Deputy Wallace on 5 June, this legislation has proven extremely complex and difficult. Nevertheless, he can assure the Deputy that his Department and the advisory and legal drafting services of the Attorney General's office has been giving the Bill priority attention in recent months with a view to meeting the Government's legislation programme commitment for its publication during the current Dáil session. He is continuing to pursue this commitment and he hopes to present the Bill to this House very shortly.
Will the Minister give a commitment that this legislation will be published during this session? Every time I and other Deputies have raised this question in the House we have been told the Department is working hard on the Bill, yet there is still no sign of it.
From the information available to me, and from my knowledge of the position, the legislation will be published before the end of the session.
Can we take it that the legislation will be published before the House rises early in July? Will the Minister introduce the legislation as soon as possible so that Committee Stage can be taken by the relevant committee during the summer recess?
That is the wish of the Minister for Equality and Law Reform and I will bring that observation to his attention.
That concludes questions for today.
