Maman Poulet | Clucking away crookedly through media, politics and life

Waiting for the law

June 6th, 2013 · 2 Comments · Disability, Equality, Irish Politics, Social Policy

While waiting for the publication of the report of the Review Group into Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant (5,000 people with disabilities are going to lose up to 20% of their income at the end of this month and few seem to care)  thoughts also are not far away from very important legislation for people with disabilities which has been delayed since 2008.  The Assisted Decision Making Bill has been promised annually and Ireland cannot ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities until it is made law.

Yesterday the Government announced it’s intention to seek a referendum on abolishing the Seanad and the legislation was published for such a referendum (estimated cost €19m) to take place.

This bill was not listed on the ‘A’ list which is the list of forthcoming legislation due to be published this session.

Knowing that there is a lot of other very important legislation which has yet to be published I thought I would check the ‘A’ list and see what has been published so far this session. I am looking for full publication rather than Heads of Bill which may be before committee.  (Publishing legislation doesn’t mean it will be passed this session or even this calendar year – some of the legislation which has been published so far this session is in Second or Committee stage).

 

Agriculture Food and the Marine
1 Forestry Bill Published 24/4/13
Children and Youth Affairs
2 Child and Family Support Agency Bill Not Published
3 Children First Bill Not Published
Communications Energy and Natural Resources
4 Minerals Development Bill Published 16/5/13
Environment Community and Local Government
5 Electoral (Amendment) Bill Not Published
6 Housing (Amendment) Bill Published 25/4/13
7 Local Government Bill Not Published
Finance
8 Betting (Amendment) Bill Not Published
Health
9 Health (Amendment) Bill Not Published
10 Medical Practitioners Act 2007 (Amendment) (Medical Indemnity Insurance) Bill Not Published
11 Protection of Maternal Life Bill Heads Published
Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
12 Consumer and Competition Bill Not Published
13 County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill Not Published
14 Employment Permits Bill Published 5/6/2013
15 Friendly Societies and Industrial and Provident Societies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill Not Published
16 Workplace Relations Bill Not Published
Justice and Equality
17 Assisted Decision-making (Capacity) Bill Not Published
18 Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill Not Published
19 Fines (Amendment) Bill Not Published
20 Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill Not Published
Public Expenditure and Reform
21 Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill Not Published
22 Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privilege and Procedures) Bill Published 15/5/13
23 Protected Disclosure in the Public Interest Bill Not Published
24 Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill Published 29/5/13
Social Protection
25 Social Welfare and Pensions Bill Published 22/5/13
Transport Tourism and Sport
26 Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill Not Published
27 Road Traffic Bill Not Published

 

It is not the presence of the Seanad or having too many politicians which is delaying the passage of legislation in Ireland. Indeed one might note that the Seanad has not enough work to do because of the scarcity of legislation. Bills could be brought to the Seanad to commence their legislative journey and speed up the process.

Government ministers and their departments simply are not performing and publishing and leading legislation through the Oireachtas.  It’s not the troika’s fault either.

There are 7 weeks left before the end of the summer session – how many of these bills will see the light of sun?

 

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