Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the ODCE falls under my delegated functions, I will take the question. I understand the Tánaiste is due to meet the Director of Corporate Enforcement in the new year. However, I met him shortly after my appointment and we had a constructive engagement primarily around the establishment of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement.

The Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Bill 2018 is my legislative priority for this session. The legislation has been in development since the Government adopted a package of measures to enhance Ireland's corporate, economic and regulatory framework in October 2017. The package included the action to establish the ODCE as an independent company law compliance and enforcement agency.

The general scheme of the Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Bill 2018 was published on 4 December 2018. My Department worked with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on the drafting of the Bill and the director was consulted on the draft legislation on an ongoing basis. Pre-legislative scrutiny on the general scheme of the Bill had not concluded at the time of the dissolution of the last Dáil and is under way again. I understand the director recently provided a submission on the legislation to the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, at its request. I also understand it is the committee's intention to invite the Tánaiste to appear before it on 20 January next.

Subject to the completion of pre-legislative scrutiny, we hope to be in a position to revert to the Government with a stamped Bill in early 2021 and its content will be discussed again with the director in advance. My ambition is for the Bill to be enacted as soon as practicably possible following the completion of pre-legislative scrutiny. I welcome Deputy Quinlivan's comments and his eagerness to have the Bill progressed. I hope that as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, he will use his position to ensure a swift passage of this Bill.

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