Vol. 492 No. 4
124 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the proposals, if any, for legislation being prepared under the auspices of his Department that have not yet been published; and the statutory instruments, if any, being prepared in his Department. [13979/98]
125 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the Acts and provisions of Acts under the auspices of his Department which, as of 1 June 1998, are not in force because a commencement order has not been made; whether it is proposed to make an order in each case; and, if so, when this will be made. [13994/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 125 together.
At present my Department is in the process of formulating legislation to amend the Defence Act, 1954, to give effect to the recommendations for a revised organisation and structure of the Defence Forces arising from the recent review of the forces which was undertaken under the aegis of the Efficiency Audit Group. In accordance with Government approval on the matter, the Defence (Amendment) Bill, 1998, is being drafted at present. The draft text of the Bill will be brought to Government as soon as possible for approval and for authority to present it to the Dáil and to circulate it.
A draft of an amending order to the Irish Red Cross Society Order, 1929 — No. 206 of 1939 — in respect of membership of the Irish Red Cross Society has been forwarded by my Department to the office of the parliamentary draftsman for approval.
Defence Force Regulations, which are required to be made pursuant to many of the provisions of the Defence act, 1954, undergo continuous review in my Department and, where necessary, are amended to take account of changing circumstances.
There is no legislation in my Department awaiting the making of a commencement order.
