State Claims Agency costs Bill
Bernard Durkan asks when the NTMA amendment enabling the State Claims Agency to manage certain legal costs will proceed. The Tánaiste says its heads were cleared and publication is expected by mid-year.
In regard to section A of the legislative programme, is it intended to prioritise any particular or urgently required aspects of the proposed Bills in this session?
My second question relates to the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill to enable management by the State Claims Agency of claims for third party legal costs arising from tribunals and commissions of inquiry and legal costs awarded against the State by the courts. Have the heads of the Bill been discussed and when is it likely that the Bill will be brought before the House?
Comment on this
The heads of the Bill were cleared in November and we expect the Bill to be brought before the House by the middle of the year.
Comment on this
Clearly, the Government wants to move ahead with all items of legislation as quickly as possible and the A list reflects its priorities. The statement issued by the Chief Whip yesterday clearly identifies a number of items of legislation which are Government priorities.