Seanad debates

Wednesday, 29 June 2005

Interpretation Bill 2000: Committee Stage.

 

2:00 am

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Fine Gael)

The discussion has been useful but I am not aware of the average number of Acts passed by the Oireachtas in the 1990s comparison with the 1940s. We are now living in a much more complex and complicated society and, consequently, legislation is often needed to address modern problems. However, these problems sometimes lapse and a problem that existed in the 1960s is no longer a problem today.

The point of my amendment is to determine how it is possible that some of these redundant problems in terms of the legislative response are still on the Statute Book. We must find a means of cleaning up the entire Statute Book. I suspect the average number of Acts passed in the 1990s by comparison with the 1940s would be 3:1. This is a bigger application, because there is no point having legislation if it is not enforced or enacted. We frequently pass legislation in both Houses of the Oireachtas which is not enforced. It is becoming utterly irrelevant as it is becoming unenforceable on the ground. The objective of our amendment is to shake-up the mindset at the heart of Government to ensure that when Acts are being proposed and enacted, they are applicable, enforceable and serve a purpose, rather than continually putting Acts on the Statute Book which gather dust.

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