Written answers

Tuesday, 3 November 2009

Department of Finance

Statutory Instruments

8:00 pm

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will report on the practice of unnumbered statutory instruments, for example, the An Foras Áiseanna Saothair superannuation amendment scheme 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38962/09]

Photo of Brian Lenihan JnrBrian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In general, statutory instruments made on or after 1 January 1948 are allocated statutory instrument numbers under the Statutory Instruments Act 1947 (the Act). However, under section 2 of the Act, the Attorney General has the power, where certain criteria are met, to exempt certain statutory instruments from the operation of section 3(1) of the Act. Statutory instruments so exempted do not require to be issued with a statutory instrument number.

As the relevant criteria (namely the proposed Scheme's limited application) set out in section 2(3) of the Act were met by An Foras Áiseanna Saothair Superannuation (Amendment) Scheme 2000, that Scheme was exempted from the operation of section 3(1) of the Act by direction of the then Attorney General on 31 July 2000.

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason there are a number of unallocated statutory instruments in 2000; if unnumbered statutory instruments exist to correspond with these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38963/09]

Photo of Brian Lenihan JnrBrian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Government Publications Section of the Office of Public Works is responsible for the printing of Statutory Instruments in accordance with the Statutory Instruments Acts 1947 and 1955. The performance of this function includes the assignment of a unique number to each Statutory Instrument received from a Government Department and/or Statutory Body.

In three cases during the year 2000, Statutory Instrument numbers were assigned in circumstances where the requesting Departments subsequently did not require them. In addition, one number was, in error, assigned to a Statutory Instrument that had already been allocated a number in 1999, and there was one duplicate number assigned.

The introduction of the Electronic Statutory Instrument System (eSIS) during 2007 ensures greater control over the production of Statutory Instruments and their numbering.

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