Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate. As many speakers stated, the Bill suits those who are interested from a legal and an historical point of view. If I had realised that Deputy Cyprian Brady would be in the Chair I would have mentioned the Anna Livia Bridge that was approved for construction and the approval of lighting on what is now Parnell Square. Much of this type of interesting information is contained in the legislation referred to.

Today's debate is a timely reminder of the better regulation agenda which is being overseen by the Taoiseach. Deputy Deasy correctly asked why this is being embarked upon. There is a commitment to reduce the cost to business by 25% by 2012. It is a significant job to modernise and reform the Statute Book and make it accessible and user friendly. The costs are borne by the Office of the Attorney General and I thank the team in that office who worked with people in the Department of the Taoiseach. They have lived with this project for some time. Members of the team are coming to the end of the project and are moving on and I thank them for their work. Deputy Tuffy spoke about values and how legislation is worked up and this will inform much of our discussion, and that of our successors, in years to come.

The Bill, when combined with previous Statute Law Revision Acts will represent one of the largest statute law revision programmes undertaken anywhere in the world. It is an important step in our efforts to increase the transparency of our statute book and complements the ongoing work to consolidate and modernise post-1922 legislation. This addresses Deputy Deasy's question on whether the exercise is necessary.

I am anxious to ensure that as much information as possible on the Bill is available to Deputies, particularly on Committee Stage. If Deputies have specific queries on any of the Acts listed for retention or repeal, I and departmental staff will be more than happy to provide the relevant summary information on those Acts prior to Committee Stage. Given that more than 10,000 Acts come within the scope of the Bill, it is not proposed to prepare summary notes on all of them.

Deputy Deasy raised a number of questions, which I have addressed. Deputy Tuffy asked valid questions on the availability of the documents concerned with Private Acts. Those relating directly to Ireland in the form of Irish Private Acts were lost in the destruction of the Four Courts in 1922. Private Acts passed in London are held in the United Kingdom Parliamentary Archives. Local and Personal Acts which date from 1747 are kept by the National Library, Trinity College library and the library of the Honourable Society of King's Inns. I understand the Oireachtas library also has access to many of these Acts. The Law Reform Commission was not involved in the project but the project has assisted them on an ongoing basis with their work.

Deputy Ó Caoláin raised the issue of the Ulster Canal. This canal is now disused but there are plans to redevelop the Monaghan stretch of it.. The extant assets of the canal are vested in Waterways Ireland by virtue of modern legislation, the Canals Act 1986, and all the powers that Waterways Ireland may need to restore the Ulster Canal are set out in modern legislation and therefore this Act is deemed suitable for repeal.

I believe I have addressed the issues that have been raised but if not I will ensure they are addressed on Committee Stage. I acknowledge the work of the team of officials in the Office of the Attorney General who have engaged in detailed and very considerable research in preparing the Bill. It has been a complex task to identify those Acts that still apply to Ireland and then ascertain whether they are suitable for repeal. In addition, I acknowledge the kind assistance of all those who facilitated the Office of the Attorney General, in particular the UK Parliamentary Archives and the Honourable Society of King's Inns. I thank the Deputies and the Acting Chair for giving this Bill the attention it deserves and for their helpful and insightful comments. I look forward to Committee Stage being addressed at a very early date.

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