Legislative programme and Digital Hub Bill
Aengus Ó Snodaigh criticises delays in the legislative programme, seeks debates on overdue reports and asks for the Digital Hub dissolution Bill to be fast-tracked. The Minister says legislation is prioritised according to complexity and need, with the Digital Hub Bill likely next year.
I have a number of issues to raise. Each term, we get a copy of the legislative programme, which is published and circulated to everybody, giving an indication of what Bills will be published. For example, the current programme indicates that 34 pieces of legislation will be produced before Christmas. I wish the Government well in that regard. The rest of the programme is a wish list and I do not see the point in many of the Bills. There are 72 pieces of legislation to be published in 2016, if it is possible, and with another 35 it is not possible at this stage to indicate a time for publication. Some of them have been on the legislative list since 2011, including the sale of alcohol Bill, the national monuments Bill and the gambling Bill. What is the purpose of the document that is circulated to us at the start of each term?
I raised my second issue last week but I still have not heard from the Whips or the Tánaiste on the matter. It relates to the Constitutional Convention, which was quite a laudable achievement. However, the problem is that the House is now continuously insulting those people who took the time and effort-----
Comment on this
I am seeking several debates as several of the reports were supposed to be debated in the House within three months of publication. We are now over a year and a half on from the publication of some of the reports and beyond that in other cases.
I know the Minister is aware of No. 72 on the legislative list, the Digital Hub Development Agency (dissolution) Bill, which is to transfer the Digital Hub operations to Dublin City Council. The Minister visited the hub recently, opening the Grainstore. I ask that the Bill be fast-tracked to ensure that Dublin City Council will have the required powers to cope with the Digital Hub as, I hope, it expands.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for his support on the Digital Hub. He is correct in that it is progressing and work is taking place at the location. The legislation is likely to be brought forward next year. With regard to the Deputy's general point on legislation, all Departments have ongoing legislative work. The Deputy knows better than I do that some legislation is more complex than others as he is here longer than me. Some legislation is prioritised, given a particular requirement that may occur in the Department or in the Government. The Deputy will accept that this Government has always been ambitious and we have demonstrated that over the four and a half years we have been in office. We are trying to ensure that we complete our legislative programme before the term of office finishes. In all likelihood, we will not manage to complete every single piece of legislation that we have aspired to; we will do as much as we can.