Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 394: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the delays being encountered by lawyers as a result of the delay with the publication of new legislation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39257/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, I have no direct role in the provision of translation services in respect of Acts of the Oireachtas. Section 3(2) of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Act 2006 sets out clearly that this is a function of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. Notwithstanding this, in order to provide an answer to the Deputy's question, I have obtained the following information from the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas:

Under Section 7 of the Official Languages Act 2003, all Acts of the Oireachtas must be published simultaneously in both language versions, i.e. the enacted version and the official translation produced by Rannóg an Aistriúcháin. A temporary delay affecting some Acts occurred around the summer recess this year in regard to the publication of some Official Translations as a result of staff vacancies and the considerably high level of legislation passed in the last weeks before the summer recess.

This delay is now rectified, with the exception of the Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which is now in the final stages of translation.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 395: To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of translation of new legislation in 2006, 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39258/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, I have no direct role in the provision of translation services in respect of Acts of the Oireachtas. Section 3(2) of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Act 2006 sets out clearly that this is a function of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission.

With regard to the cost of translation of Acts, I understand that Rannóg an Aistriúcháin has other areas of responsibility that take up a significant proportion of staff time. These include the daily Order Papers for both Houses, a simultaneous translation service for both Houses and an Oireachtas Committee, translation of material for Imeachtaí (Proceedings) for both Houses, managing An Caighdeán Oifigiúil (the Official Grammar), oversight of the Irish text of EU Treaties and managing miscellaneous translation requirements of the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Accordingly, it is not possible in the time available to provide an accurate costing for the translation of new legislation from 2006 to date as requested. I will forward the information to the Deputy shortly.