Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the dates on which the heads of Bills (details supplied) will be approved by Government; and the expected dates of publication of the said bills. [16613/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The following is the position in relation to the Bills in my Department:

Chemicals Bill

I expect to seek Government approval for the drafting of this Bill before the end of the year. The content and timing of publication of the Bill will be decided by the Government in due course.

Collective Investment Schemes Consolidation Bill

My intention is to have Heads of Bill available for submission to Government for approval for drafting by December 2007. This, however, is dependent on a number of factors, including, for example, a positive outcome to discussions with stakeholders. It is not possible, at this stage, to give an indication of the likely date for publication of the Bill.

Company Law Consolidation and Reform Bill

I expect to seek Government approval in early autumn for the formal drafting by the Office of the Parliamentary Council of the Company Law Consolidation and Reform Bill. As the Office of the Parliamentary Council has indicated that its work on the Bill is expected to take up to 18 months, the date of publication of the Bill is likely to be late 2008 or early 2009.

Employment Agency Regulation Bill

Following the recent period of consultation and subsequent clarification of certain legal questions, I expect to submit the Heads of the Bill to Government for approval in early autumn. Depending on the volume of Bills submitted for drafting to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel and the priorities identified by Government as to drafting, it is anticipated that the Bill will be published before end-year.

Employment Law Compliance Bill 2007

Preparatory work is well advanced to give effect to the commitment in "TOWARDS 2016" for publication of the Employment Law Compliance Bill in 2007. The Social Partners and other relevant interests will be consulted on detailed proposals for the Bill and Government approval for final drafting will be sought as soon as those consultations are completed, within the next few months. The content and timing of publication of the Bill will be decided by the Government in due course.

Transfer of Undertakings (Pensions) Bill

The examination of this issue is to be concluded by the end of 2007. The outcome in terms of legislation is not yet clear and therefore I cannot give dates for either approval of draft Heads or publication of the Bill.