Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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580. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the minerals development Bill 2015 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2253/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Drafting of the Minerals Development Bill is substantially complete, subject to such final legal or technical amendments as may be agreed with the Attorney General. Government policy since November 2013 is to present the general scheme or draft heads of a Bill to the relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee in accordance with Standing Order 123A for pre-legislative consideration.

On the introduction of this pre-legislative scrutiny process it was envisaged that this would occur at the early stage of preparation of a Bill. However, I have asked the Joint Oireachtas Committee to consider the Minerals Development Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny in advance of its submission to Government for approval to publish. This complies with the spirit of the pre-legislative scrutiny arrangements and will afford the Committee members an opportunity to provide input before the Bill is finalised. Publication of the Bill will follow Government approval.