Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The statement of strategy for the Department of the Taoiseach commits it to drawing up a programme of law reform arising from the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission. How does the Department prioritise the legislation that is to be brought before the House? For example, the Personal Insolvency Bill 2012 took many months to prepare and bring before the House and it is only now coming to some form of realisation after almost two years of preparation. The Minister for Justice and Equality recently asked the commission to review the legislation covering bullying, including the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997, in light of the need to legislate for cyberbullying and other issues that, unfortunately, are now frequently manifesting themselves. In devising this programme of law reform, will additional resources be allocated to the Minister for Justice and Equality or the Office of the Attorney General to ensure the fulfilment of the programme and drafting of legislation? Does the Government intend to review how judges are appointed in light of the commission's recommendation in that regard?

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