Joe Costello
Ceist:366 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment when the Credit Union Bill will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21606/96]
Written Answers. - Credit Union Bill.
Proposals for the updating and consolidation of the body of legislation dealing with credit unions, which dates in some cases from 1893, are well advanced. The scope of the Bill has necessarily required detailed attention on the part of both my Department and the Attorney General's Office. However, I am pleased to be able to say that a first draft of the Bill, which involves up to 200 sections, has been received from the Parliamentary Draftsman, and it is presently being examined in detail by my Department and the Registrar of Friendly Societies, who has overall responsibility for the regulation and supervision of credit unions. Discussions to finalise the text of the Bill will take place with the Parliamentary Draftsman shortly. Given the length of the Bill, I expect that it will take another few weeks before I will be in a position to submit the Bill to Government for approval.
The Credit Union Bill is my major priority for legislative action in the coming months and, while I am not able to give a precise date for publication at present, I can assure Deputies that every effort is being made to have the Bill published before the end of the present session. Upon publication, it is my intention that interested parties will be given an opportunity to review the terms of the Bill before it is considered by the Oireachtas.