Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Section 1 provides for commencement orders by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in respect of the Bill except for Part 2. This is a matter for the Minister Health and Children, after consultation with the Minister for Education and Science, as these Ministers have primary responsibility for the matters covered in that part of the Bill. Amendments Nos. 6, 7 and 10 seek to remove from the Bill provisions relating to commencement, the intention being to allow immediate commencement on enactment. Such an approach would be unusual for a Bill of such size, diversity and complexity.

With regard to Part 3, these provisions will become operative on 31 December 2005. When the Bill was published, the Taoiseach remarked that putting in place the full set of measures set out in the Bill will take time. The scope of the Bill is ambitious and people will understand that these services and supports will take time to put in place.

The priority, however, for the Government is to enact the Bill, as promised in the programme for Government. The Government intends to implement the provisions of the Bill as quickly as possible. The HSE is working on the detail of the practical implementation of the new arrangements, regulations and standards that will come into being and the Government will implement this Bill as soon as physically possible.

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