Pre-Christmas legislation plans
Lalor said the Appropriations and Gaeltacht Bills were expected, with one or more additional Bills possible but not yet confirmed. Asked whether a residential ground-rents Bill was among them, he offered no clear commitment.
asked the Taoiseach the new legislation it is proposed to introduce before the Christmas recess.
Comment on this
I will be in touch with the Opposition Parties in regard to business which will be initiated in the Dáil before the Christmas recess.
Comment on this
That does not answer the question. The question asked is a specific one as to what legislation it is intended to introduce. Could we have an answer to the question?
Comment on this
The situation is that this is normally done by way of verbal communication between the Whips. We know at this stage that the Appropriations Bill has to be introduced. There was a Bill circulated this morning, the Gaeltacht Bill. There is the possibility of one or two other Bills being moved, by long or short title, before the Christmas recess but those are not yet clear. Normally the Government side are not in a position to make long forecasts in relation to measures of this nature.
Comment on this
I was not asking for long-term forecasts; just a short-term weather forecast. What I want to know is, given the short time between now and the end of this session, what legislation is to be brought in in the period between now and the Dáil going into recess in about ten days' time? That is a reasonable request at this stage. The Parliamentary Secretary should be in a position to answer it. He can hardly be in the position that he does not know what he is bringing in next week.
Comment on this
Might I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether it is intended, as promised, to introduce a Bill in this session dealing with the abolition of existing residential ground rents?
Comment on this
Is the Parliamentary Secretary now telling us that it is intended to introduce such a Bill?