Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason it has been decided to seek tenders for drafting of a Courts Bill; the estimated cost of such a project; the reason it is required that the tenderer be a company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8973/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Law Reform Commission published a Consultation Paper on Reform and Consolidation of the Courts Acts in 2007 as a follow up to a project it began in 2005 which aimed to reform and consolidate the Courts Acts, which comprise up to 100 Acts, including a large number that predate the foundation of the State. The Commission embarked on the project jointly with my Department and the Courts Service. A Working Group was established for the project, comprising representatives of the Commission, the Courts Service, the judiciary, the Department, the legal profession and the academic community. It is intended that a draft Courts Bill will be published as part of the final report of the Commission.

On 13 February last, my Department, in consultation with the Commission, invited tenders from suitably qualified parties to draft the Bill. The text of the Request for Tender document includes conditions, based on standard procurement practice, with which companies must comply in the event that they submit a tender. There is, however, no requirement that the tenderer must be a company. The Request for Tender document is currently displayed on the etenders website (www.etenders.gov.ie). Further information in relation to the terms of reference, general conditions of the tender invitation, etc. is available on-line in that document and queries may be raised by any interested party.

The drafting process will be carried out under the supervision of the Law Reform Commission.

The Deputy will appreciate that the estimated cost of the project cannot be disclosed during the ongoing open competitive tender process.