The Government is to publish legislation contracting out prisoner escort services and regulating tribunal costs between now and the Dáil's summer break.
Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt yesterday announced that 13 new Bills would be published in this Dáil session, which began yesterday. These also include the Employment Permits Bill which will put the current employment permit regime on a statutory footing.
Legislation will be produced to hold a constitutional referendum on the EU constitutional treaty. However, no date has been set for this referendum, and no timetable for the passage of the 28th Amendment to the Constitution Bill has been published. The Dáil session began yesterday after its Easter break and is scheduled to continue until the summer recess on July 7th.
There is also to be an Abbotstown Sports Campus Development Authority Bill, providing for the development and management of sports facilities at Abbotstown. Although the national stadium project at Abbotstown is off the agenda, this Bill will pave the way for the phased development of other sports facilities at the site.
In addition to these 13 new Bills there are 33 Bills before the Oireachtas at various stages of completion. Mr Kitt said yesterday that the Government had "set itself an ambitious legislative target when taking up office. Since 2002 over 115 Bills have been published - a clear indication that this Government is delivering on our targets."