Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom i dtosach báire tagairt beag a dhéanamh don chlár reachtaíochta a fuair muid inné ón bPríomh Aoire. Táim cinnte go raibh cuid mhaith rudaí in easnamh, ach thug mé faoi deara go raibh dhá Bhille in easnamh, Billí a bhí geallta dúinn don fhómhar seo, ceann amháin a bhain le Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus ceann a bhain le cúrsaí inimirce.

I refer to two Bills which were promised by the autumn. While they feature on the list of proposed legislation produced yesterday, they have not yet been produced. The official languages Bill has been pushed back to next year as the heads have not yet been agreed. I seek clarification on the reasons the Bill has not yet been produced, as promised. A consultation process lasting for more than 18 months was carried out. I ask that the Minister publish the submissions and subsequent report, as promised.

I am also concerned about the promised immigration, residence and protection Bill, which comes within the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality. The Minister indicated the previous Bill was not fit for purpose and would be redrafted. He also stated it would be produced in the autumn but there is no sign of it. The only Bill referred to in the list is the old Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill from 2010, which he intends to completely rewrite. This is very important legislation.

The House will hold important debates this week and next week. Last year at budget time, we agreed to hold a series of structured debates on budgetary issues prior to the budget. I am disappointed this process did not commence this week and hope it will begin next week. While Senators may jump up and down discussing the possible abolition of the Seanad, what I am hearing on the ground is that people are much more worried about how the budget will impact on them. I note from the pre-budget submission of the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, which was published yesterday, that the organisation is very concerned about the budget. We are receiving a large number of presentations on the budget from various lobby groups and it is not good enough to have so little debate on the issue in the Houses. We need to hold specific debates on all elements of the budget, as promised before the summer recess. If the Seanad is to show it is of any value, it must debate these urgent issues, commencing now and continuing to budget day and beyond.