Heritage and cultural institutions Bills
Seán Ó Fearghaíl asks why three promised heritage and cultural institutions Bills have been delayed; the Tánaiste gives expected publication dates in late 2014 and outlines committee consideration of their heads.
I will proceed. I am grateful to the Ceann Comhairle for calling me. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has an important three-piece suite of long-promised legislation, those being, the heritage (amendment) Bill, the monuments Bill and the natural cultural institutions Bill. I understand that the Cabinet has agreed the heads of these important Bills, but there is no sign of them being published. Will the Tánaiste explain the delay? The Department in question is not exactly inundated with legislative proposals. When can we expect to see the Bills emanating?
Comment on this
The heads of the heritage (amendment) Bill are to go to the committee for consideration in line with the new arrangements for having heads of Bills considered at committee before drafting is finalised. The expected publication date is late 2014. The expected publication date of the monuments Bill is late 2014. The heads of the natural cultural institutions Bill are to be submitted to the committee before drafting is done.