Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

Is there a problem in the Department of Education and Science regarding the production of legislation? It produced one Bill, which was passed when the former Minister, Deputy Hanafin, was Minister for Education and Science and has now been pulled onto Report Stage where it is stuck in committee for spurious legal reasons. Section A of the pink sheet promises that two relatively simple Bills will be published during this session. Last week the Taoiseach said they would be published before the next session starts, which is some five or six weeks away. Does the Department need extra assistance? Is there a transfer list whereby one could ask people from other Departments to work there? It is a very big Department. Can the Taoiseach carry out research to see where the legislative drafters are and if they need special help? Perhaps a FÁS scheme might help.

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