Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together.

My Department has one item of legislation, the Statute Law Revision Bill, which was published on 1 February 2007 and is at Order for Second Stage in the Seanad.

This Bill will continue the process of modernising the Statute Book by repealing 3,188 ancient statutes, dating from between 1200 and 6 December 1922, that are now redundant or obsolete. The Bill will also positively retain 1,348 statutes from the same period, as they are not proposed for repeal at present.

Ultimately, it is the intention that all legislation that pre-dates the foundation of the State will be repealed. Where we need to keep the provisions of any pre-1922 legislation, it is intended that these will be re-enacted in a more modern form.

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