Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he intends to publish the Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest Bill legislation. [39874/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Government approved the drafting of the Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest Bill, 2012 in February 2012. The General Scheme of the Bill was published on my Department’s website and referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform for its views. The Committee’s report containing its detailed observations on the General Scheme based on its deliberations and meetings with various experts and interested parties were submitted to me last July. Drafting of the Bill by the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel is continuing and the Bill is included in the Government’s Legislation Programme with an expected publication date early in 2013.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he intends to publish the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill legislation. [39875/12]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when will he publish the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012 Regulatory Impact Assessment undertaken and completed by his Department earlier this year. [39879/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 53 together.

The Deputy will be aware of the significant commitments given in the Programme for Government to restore the Freedom of Information Act, to extend its remit to other public bodies. To this end the Government has recently approved plans to reform and extend Freedom of Information and I have submitted the General Scheme of the Freedom of Information Bill to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for its views and recommendations. I believe that the Committee can on its own account and drawing on the perspectives, experience and expertise of a broader range of relevant parties make a very significant contribution to the further development and refinement of these important legislative proposals. I expect to be in a position to publish the Freedom of Information Bill following careful consideration of the views of the Joint Oireachtas Committee received on the legislative proposals and the drafting of the Bill by the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel in due course.

The Deputy may wish to note that the General Scheme of the Freedom of Information Bill is available on my Department’s website and it is my intention to publish the associated Regulatory Impact Assessment on the website shortly.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he intends to publish the National Lottery Act 1986 (Amendment) Bill legislation. [39876/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Government has approved the General Scheme of the National Lottery Bill 2012. The General Scheme has been sent to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government. It is my intention to seek Government approval for the Bill in the current Dáil session and, subject to approval, the Bill will be published shortly afterwards.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he intends to publish the Regulation of Lobbying Bill legislation. [39877/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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A consultation process was carried out by my Department earlier this year, based on the broad OECD principles, to inform the development of proposals for lobbying regulation in Ireland. Following this process policy proposals were published drawing on the outcome of the consultation.

A public seminar was then held in early July to discuss the proposals, following which a further consultation phase on lobbying took place focusing on some specific issues. This phase has recently concluded. A General Scheme of a Bill is currently being drafted by my Department and I intend to bring this Scheme to Government as soon as possible. Subject to the views of Government, I would anticipate that the General Scheme will be published and sent to the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform for their consideration.

I expect to be in a position to publish the Bill following careful consideration of the views of the Joint Oireachtas Committee received on the legislative proposals and the drafting of the Bill by the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel in due course.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he intends to publish the Public service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill legislation. [39878/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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My Department is currently finalising the Draft Heads of the Bill to amend the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and I expect to bring proposals to Government for agreement very shortly. My officials will be liaising with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) with a view to having the Bill drafted and published at the earliest possible date.